Pete Braun

The Celebration of Life for Pete Braun will take place on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at Bridgeway Community Church, Swift Current, SK.

The service was recorded and can be viewed here

There will be a luncheon and time of sharing in the lower hall immediately following the service.

Peter Braun, age 96, went peacefully to his eternal rest on September 24, 2021 at the Cypress Regional Hospital, Swift Current, SK. Pete was born June 14, 1925 in Herbert, SK, not long after his parents, John and Helen (Friesen) Braun arrived in Canada from Orenburg, Russia. He was the third of ten siblings. His school years were spent in Turnhill and Capeland. Growing up on a farm meant lots of hard work for Pete and his brothers, but they learned to lighten their days with shenanigans.

During WWII, as a conscientious objector Pete worked at the Ben Jahnke ranch northwest of Main Centre. The next winter was spent at a lumber mill in BC. Pete then attended Caronport Bible School for a year and stayed another year doing maintenance, shoveling coal to heat the school, and, with much leniency enforcing student curfew time.

For five years Pete had his eye on beautiful Leona Block, and they were married September 25, 1949. Pete’s adoration of Leona was evident throughout their 72 years of marriage. Their first winter was spent caring for his parent’s farm while they were in BC, followed by a year of construction with Pete’s Uncle Dick in Lethbridge. Then they worked at Herbert Bible School, Pete in maintenance and Leona as cook. Shortly thereafter daughter Sherry was born in 1952. Pete was one happy dad! After son Dallas was born in 1955 he exclaimed, “Now I have a million dollar family!”

Pete began farming at age 17 and loved that work for 70 active years. He also led construction crews — erecting the Main Centre Ice Rink, twenty-seven quonsets, and thirteen houses all over the countryside. A building highlight was being project manager in the construction of the Teepee and other buildings at Herbert Ferry Regional Park. He was respected as a master carpenter and loved as a congenial and fair boss. Pete enjoyed raising ponies and pheasants, and building clocks and curio cabinets.

Pete’s appreciation of music began at an early age, listening to his mother sing hymns as she worked. He learned to play violin as a teenager and then guitar. For over 65 years he accompanied Leona and her sisters, Frieda and Lydia, as they sang at community and church events. Pete and Leona spent much of their time visiting and singing for the elderly, sick, lonely, and dying. They ministered in song at eighty-four funerals. In retirement years they enjoyed performing with the Golden Oldies Band.

Pete and Leona had large hearts — fostering children, sponsoring poor children, and unofficially adopting others as their own. Their nieces and nephews were very important to them. Pete felt blessed to be able to support many charities, help build an MB Missions church in Germany, work at West Bank Bible Camp, and serve with the Gideons.

Pete was a very generous, loving, and affirming father who went out of his way to provide for, support, and gift his family. Seeding and harvesting with Dallas brought him a lot of joy and in his last years he especially loved getting on the combine and visiting Dallas’ shop. Grandsons Kinsey and DeLayne’s yearly summer farm vacations were a highlight of fun mixed with work, topped off with evenings of singing with the guitar and omnichord.

Pete’s faith became central to his life when at age 22 he was baptized and joined the Main Centre MB Church. Here he devoted himself to tireless service on the Board of Elders, singing in choirs, and renovating and maintaining the building and grounds. For several decades he served on the Board of Mennonite Mutual Fire Insurance. After retiring Pete and Leona moved to Swift Current and joined Bridgeway Community Church, where they served on a worship team and as deacons. Pete talked of his mother’s prayers following him and expressed the hope that others would experience God’s saving grace as he had. He was a content man, always crediting God for his many blessings.

“Rest in peace, dear husband, dad, grandpa, opa, brother, uncle, and friend — forever remembered as a good man, with your friendly smile and wave, wearing your signature cowboy hat and belt buckle! We love you and miss you dearly!” Your beloved wife Leona; daughter Sherry (Wesley) and grandson Kinsey (Amanda) with great-grandsons Lyle and Ari, and grandson DeLayne; son Dallas; siblings Sophie, Otto, Willie, Hildor; extended family; numerous friends.

The Graveside Celebration of Life for Pete Braun can be viewed here

In lieu of flowers and in memory of Pete Braun, donations may be made to the Gideons International or to Rock Solid Refuge would be appreciated by the family. (Rock Solid Refuge is a 12-month Biblically based recovery program for teenage boys who are struggling with addiction and challenging behaviors.)

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Pete Braun, please visit our floral store.