Keith George Braun, a World War II Veteran in the Army Air Forces, passed away on Thursday, May 18, at his home in Heartwood at The Arbor in Crosby, Minnesota, where he has been a resident since December 2016.  He recently resided in Ironton, Minnesota, and was 91 years young.  He was born in Milwaukee, WI to George Emil and Viola (Rohwetter). He grew up in Sherburne, Minnesota, living with his grandparents Bertha and Herman Braun for a short time and attended Sherburne Grade School.  During his earlier years, his main hobby was building and flying RC (Radio Controlled) Model airplanes beginning at the age of 8. When he was in the third grade, he moved to Fairmont, Minnesota, where his dad had a Chrysler/Plymouth dealership.  He later worked for the ship yards in Duluth, Minnesota.  At 17 (1943), Keith went into what was then the Army Air Forces doing his basic in Biloxi, MS and then Truax field for radio school and Chanute AFB for radar control.  He spent his tour of duty during WWII in the Azores which was a refueling stop for planes going to Europe and he spent 15 months in the Kwajalein Islands doing ground to air communications.   In 1946 after spending time in both theaters of war, he was honorably discharged and spent one year at UMD, Duluth.

After being discharged from the military, he worked for Singer selling sewing machines and married Ruby Victoria Franson.  They lived in Duluth, MN and had an apartment for $27.50/month which included heat and janitor service.  Later they bought a house in Hermantown.  At that time, Keith worked for Arrowhead Bearing in Duluth.    Then he worked for several years at Minnesota Bearing in Duluth and became a salesman.  The family later moved to Minneapolis in the St Louis Park area where he was a salesman.  Then they moved to Sioux Falls, SD and worked for and later bought into a business called Malloy Bearing and Supply.  Being the salesman he was, he later moved to Industrial Supply in Minneapolis and worked there for 11 years.  This later became Dalton Gear.  He later retired from the Knott Company of Minneapolis at the age of 66.  He and the family had a home in St Louis Park, Wayzata, and New Hope, MN and he also owned a lake home in Pine City, MN.  After retiring they moved solely to the lake home and sold the New Hope home.

Throughout his years, he belonged to AMA (American Modelers Association), was a member of EAA of Oshkosh, WI, and a dedicated member of the Society of Antique Modelers.    Until just recently, he was very active in this hobby.  He also was a very skilled wood builder at the Tucson Rincon East Mill Shop as well as a whittler and a super golfer.    He was a member of the American Legion Post 443 and of St. Joseph’s Church of Crosby, MN.

In 2002 he married Jean (Bruehling) Klingsporn whom he had met in Tucson, AZ. 

Keith is preceded in death by his former wife, Ruby Braun.

Keith is survived by his wife, Jean of Ironton, MN;  one brother Dale Braun of Tucson, AZ ; one sister, Sandy (Hugh) McGuigan of Valpariso, IN; and  his children Charlotte Braun of Maple Grove, MN,  George (Joanie) Braun of Sunrise, FL, Dale (Marlis) Braun of Brooklyn Park, MN, Linda Braun of Sioux Falls, SD, Douglas (Al) Braun-Harvey of San Diego, CA; step children Joseph (Shannon) Klingsporn of Stillwater, MN and Deanna (Thomas) Boysen of Isanti, MN;  13 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Mass will be held 10:00 am on Friday, May 26, 2017 at St. Joseph Church in Crosby, MN with military honors given by the Myrin-James American Legion Post 443 of Ironton. Burial will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls at 1:00 pm on Friday.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday.  In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred. Arrangements are with the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby.

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