Obit: Braatz, Donald H. #2 (1916 - 2013)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Braatz, Gluch, Parker, Theiste

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 9/11/2013

Braatz, Donald H. (19 June 1916 - 26 August 2013)

Donald H. Braatz, 97, of Eau Claire died Aug. 26, 2013, at the Clairemont Nursing and Rehabilitation in Eau Claire.

Don was born June 19, 1916, in Clark County to Herman and Nellie Braatz. He graduated from Neillsville High School in 1934 and attended the University of Wisconsin for one year. He married his grade and high school sweetheart, Irene Gluch, June 30, 1940. From this union, they had three children. Don and Irene recently celebrated 73 years together.

Don farmed for 15 years and then was elected Clark County Treasurer, and the family moved to Neillsville. Don bought the Gambles Store in Neillsville, selling hardware and appliances. In 1970, he opened Braatz Appliance Center in Eau Claire. Upon retiring, Don and Irene traveled extensively, having been to six of the seven continents and spending winters in Apache Junction, AZ, and summers at their cottage on Mead Lake in Greenwood. In 1996, Don built a new home in Eau Claire, where they have resided since.

Don’t greatest passion was hunting. He hunted deer in Wisconsin and made many trips out West for deer, antelope and elk. He hunted in the Yukon and Northwestern Alberta, Canada. His trophies include big horn ram, stone ram, mountain goat, grizzly bear, caribou, moose and mule deer.

Don volunteered to be a Cub and Boy Scout leader, taught hunter’s safety and took many camping trips with his scouts. He volunteered with S.C.O.R.E., Senior Corps of Retired Executives, and was a member of the Rotary club, Sportsman’s Club, Winx, Ducks Unlimited and Neillsville Gun Club. Don was also president of church council in two different churches and a founding member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Neillsville.

Survivors include his wife of 73 years, Irene; three children, Corrine (Kenneth) Parker of Antioch, IL, Daryl (Marie) Braatz of Greenwood and Dennis (Marlene) Braatz of Eau Claire; four grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents and three siblings, Esther Silbernagel, Ervin and Victor Braatz.

Memorial services will be held Sept. 13, 2013, at 3 p.m. at Concordia Lutheran Church, 3715 London Road, Eau Claire, with Pastor Frederick Theiste officiating. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the church. Burial will take place Saturday, Sept. 14, at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery in Granton, with lunch following.

Online condolences may be left at www.cremationsociaety-wi.com.  Cremation Society of Wisconsin is serving the family.