Obituary of Ron Braun

BRAUN – Ron (Ronald) was born on March 7, 1949, in the Canora Union Hospital to Henry and Sarah Braun (nee Thiessen). Sadly, on Friday, February 9, 2024, at the age of 74, he passed away peacefully with his family by his side.

Ron was the oldest of 14 siblings. He started school at the age of 8, speaking only German. He attended several schools throughout his childhood. Ron started working before the age of 16, for a neighbouring farmer. As the oldest child he helped his mom a lot. He shared stories of walking miles with his mom, to help carry groceries home from town at a very young age. Ron started working for a logging company in the Hudson Bay area, staying in logging camps while working there. Following that, he operated heavy equipment doing land development projects at Madge Lake and Moose Jaw golf course and parks. Ron went back to working for a farmer near Saltcoats before moving to Calgary in 1969 with a friend, Ross Nabozniak. In Calgary he worked for a tire shop and Pioneer Paving. In 1969, while living in Calgary, he met Colleen Work and they were married on April 14, 1972. They welcomed their first daughter, Cori in May, 1973. Ron and Colleen moved back to the Bredenbury area in 1975 and Ron started working for Kleysen Transport in Esterhazy. They welcomed two more daughters, Rhonda in August, 1976 and Robyn in April, 1980. Ron worked at Kleysens for 21 years as a heavy duty mechanic, with his brother-in-law Herb. After the Kleysens' location in Esterhazy closed, he went to work for Potzus Construction as a heavy duty mechanic until his retirement. Ron enjoyed camping at Assessippi Provincial Park for many summers. He was a homebody, and enjoyed playing cards with his grand-children, being outdoors, listening to music, watching birds and gardening. Ron cherished the times spent visiting with his children and grand-children. He was proud to be called Grandad. Squirrels were a running joke in the family, and his love/hate relationship of them, following the havoc they created with more than one of his vehicles. After retirement, he enjoyed visiting with his brother Terry and his friend Chris.

Ron was predeceased by his infant brother, his parents, Sarah and Henry, his mother and father-in-law, Jim and Eileen Work, two brothers, George and Ken, his nephew Bryan Cross, and sister-in-law and brother-in-laws, Mary-Anne & Ross Nabozniak and Dave, Jim and Don Work.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife of over 51 years, Colleen; his daughters, Cori (Curtis) and children, Trina, Kirsten and Chayse (Ainsley) of Strome, AB, Rhonda (Kelly) and children, Austin (Katelyn), Kaedin (Hailey) and Tristyn of Yorkton, SK, and Robyn (Neal) and children, Marli (Kaidean) and Nolan of Yorkton, SK; his sisters and brother-in-laws, Jean (Herb) Cross, Fern (John) Ward, Lorrie (Dale) Olm, Rose (Ken) Ward, Marianne (Ray) Miller, Vicky (John) Stelmaszak, Violet (Scott) Taylor, and brothers, Terry, Gord, Rob; and sister and brother-in-law, Pat and Dave White; and many nieces, nephews and their families. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends and all who knew him. His family would like to extend a special thank-you to the ICU nurses of Yorkton Regional Health Centre, Leslie, Carla and Miranda for the care given, as well as to the Langenburg Home Care nurses.

The Memorial Service was held on February 15, 2024 from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Crystal Bailey officiating. The tribute was shared by daughter, Cori. The musical selections were ‘Softly and Tenderly’ and ‘Why Me Lord’. The interment will take place at a later date in the Arabella Cemetery, Norquay District with Trina, Kirsten, Chayse, Austin, Kaedin, Tristyn, Marli, and Nolan serving as urnbearers. Memorial donations may be made to the Yorkton SPCA or Paws and Claws as gifts of remembrance. Messages of condolence may be shared at baileysfuneralhome.com