BERNHARDT (BEN) BRAUN

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BERNHARDT (BEN) BRAUN It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Ben Braun on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at the Morris General Hospital, at the age of 93 years. He will be remembered and missed by his loving wife Katherine (Kay); his daughters Sandra Penner and Merelyn (Colin) Hunkin; grandchildren Dana ( Garrett) McKee, Devon Hunkin and partner Roland Furet, Aiden Hunkin; great-granddaughter Marrin McKee; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Jacob and Elizabeth Braun, six sisters, and six brothers. Ben was born on November 14, 1917 at Rush Lake, SK. His family moved to Manitoba shortly after he was born. He married Katherine Giesbrecht on September 4, 1941 at Banff, AB. They have been married just short of 70 years. He attended school in Winnipeg and in rural Manitoba, and lived most of his adult life in Lowe Farm. During the Second World War he spent time in England and Holland with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). For over forty years Ben was involved in heavy equipment construction in projects such as connecting roads in the Whiteshell Forest, Highway #1 near Regina, SK, dam construction at Lake Minnewanka and Kananaskis, AB, an airport at Williams Lake, BC, and numerous roads, drainage channels and dugouts in Manitoba. Some of these projects in remote areas required various living accommodations for Ben and Kay such as tents, log cabins, and caboose trailers. Ben served on jury duty several times over the years, and he was the Lowe Farm Postmaster for 11 and one half years. His seasonal work allowed Ben the opportunity to enjoy the sport of curling. Making movies of his grandchildren was a favourite pastime. As a member of the Khartum Arabian Horse Guard, he loved participating in equestrian activities in Canada and the USA, riding his Arabian horse Redwood (Red). Ben rode Red until he was 80. Ben was a member of the Morris Legion, Morris United Church, Morris Lions Club, Masonic Lodge, Khartum Shrine, Lowe Farm Curling Club, Lowe Farm Chamber of Commerce, and was the first president of the Lowe Farm Friendship Centre. He was a board member when the Lowe Farm Prairie View Apartments were built. During the last two years Ben needed additional care, spending time in the Morris General Hospital and Red River Valley Lodge. The family would like to thank Dr. Fraser and the staffs at the lodge and hospital for the excellent care and kindness shown to Ben during this time. A memorial service will be held at the Morris United Church, in Morris, on Tuesday July 5 at 2:00 p.m. The family will hold a burial service at the Lowe Farm Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. prior to the service. There will be viewing at the Morris Funeral Home on Monday from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Memorial donations in Ben's memory may be made to the Red River Valley Lodge, Box 507, Morris, MB R0G 1K0. Morris Funeral Home 204-746-2451 Toll Free 1-866-746-2451 www.morrisfuneralhome.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 02, 2011