Christopher “Chris” Braun, 67, of Darwin passed away on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at his home in Darwin. Memorial Service was held Saturday, June 8, 2024, 4 p.m. at Cornerstone Church in Litchfield. Private Family Graveside Service will be held at a later date in St. Anastasia Catholic Cemetery in Hutchinson.
Clergy Officiating: Pastor Jeff Garland; Guitarist: Colin Jensen; Special Music: Colin and Faith Jensen “I’ll Praise”; Bagpipes: Mike Breidenbach “Amazing Grace”; Reader: Ann Jones; Congregational Hymns: “Goodness of God”, “Raise A Hallelujah”, “The Battle Belongs to the Lord”, “Who You Say I Am”; Urn Bearers: Beau Braun, Alex McGlynn Christopher “Chris” Peter Braun (Braunie) was bom on May 3, 1957, in St. Paul. He was the son of Sally (Germscheid) Braun and the late Neal Braun. Chris was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith. He was a graduate of Hutchinson High School class of 1975. He continued his education at St. John’s University in Collegeville where he was a part of the 1976 National Championship winning football team. He graduated with a degree in Environmental Science from St. John’s and also received a degree in NDT from Hutchinson Technical College.
On December 21, 1985, Chris was united in marriage to Suzanne Helmbrecht at St Anastasia Church in Hutchinson. This marriage was blessed with two children, Beau and Alex, whom he was more than proud of. Chris and Suzanne made their home on Lake Washington, on the outskirts of Darwin. They shared 38 years of marriage.
Chris was employed at Hillyard Inc. He spent the majority of his 35 years as a sales rep with the company. He took pride in building lifelong relationships with his customers, as well as being of service to them.
Chris was passionate about sharing time with his parents and in-laws every chance he could get. He also loved to spend time at the Hunt Shack in northern Minnesota near Lake Winnie. The memories he shared there, with buddies and family, were more than special to him. He had a love for sports. The biggest sport highlights for him were supporting and coaching his children with their sport interests. He was more than proud of their hockey careers. Fish fries, bonfires, reflecting on a full moon, and watching sunsets over the lake, surrounded by his family, and the love of his life Suzanne, was all he needed.
Remembering a gentle and simple man and of few words. He always had a listening ear and was full of love in his heart for everyone he knew. One of the last words he spoke was “I love you man”. If he were here, he would want all of you to know that his love for all of you was like no other.
Chris loved the Lord, including the prayer that his son would send him daily as part of a family prayer group. He grew his faith in his later years at Cornerstone Church in Litchfield.
His daily prayer: Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
God’s blessings to everyone who knew him. Chris is survived by his wife Suzanne Braun of Darwin; children: Beau Braun and his special friend, Amanda Ryder of Hudson, Wis., Alex McGlynn and her husband Colin of Minnetrista; mother Sally Braun of Hutchinson; father- and mother-in-law Mick and Diane Helmbrecht; siblings, Sue Keenan and her husband Mike of Glencoe, Jill Gibson and her husband, Herb of Mahtomedi, Tom Braun of Darwin; brother-in-law Scott Helmbrecht and his wife Rhonda, Vin Goldsmith and his wife Jane from Australia; sister-in-law Michelle Helmbrecht; nieces and nephews.
Chris is preceded in death by his father Neal Braun; brother-in-law, Jon Helmbrecht.
Arrangements by the Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson. Online obituaries and guestbook available at www.hantge.com. http://www.hantge.com
