Thursday, March 6, 2008

Oct. 29, 1916 - Jan. 29, 2008

Josephine "Jody" Braun, died Jan. 29, 2008, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook at the age of 91.

She was born Oct. 29, 1916, in McCook, the daughter of the late Joseph F. and Kathryn E. (Phillips) Downs. She grew up in McCook and graduated from McCook High School.

On Aug. 11, 1935, Jody married William Jerome Braun at Oberlin and they spent their married life in McCook.

She helped start the McCook Pantry, where she worked for several years. She was a homemaker most of her life, until her husband became ill. Jody worked at the McCook Junior College Student Union known as the WigWam and later worked in the lab of the Magrath Company.

She loved to sew and go to garage and auction sales. She was an antique collector and her largest collection was of old dolls. Jody's most beautiful hobby was her excellent china painting, which she did in later years until her vision failed her.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William J. Braun in 1989; by her only child, a son, William F. Braun on Nov. 1, 2003; and two sisters, Elizabeth (Lindbeck) Rollstin and Roberta Hawn.

She is survivied by her sisters, Mary Korte of Lincoln, Ileen Lenhart and husband, Lindy of McCook and Helen Jean Lebsack and husband, Ray of Spokane, Wash.; two grandchildren, Stephany Precourt and husband, Tom of Erie, Colo., and Jeffery Braun and wife, Christine of Eagle, Colo.; five great-grandchildren, Quinn, Molly and Connor Precourt and Zoe and Cleo Braun.

She will be missed by many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Memorial services will be Saturday, 11 a.m., at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in McCook with the Rev. John Strecker-Baseler officiating. Inurnment will be in St. Alban's Columbarium.