Obituary of Frank Braun

It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of Frank Anton Braun at St. Mary's General Hospital on Sunday, July 10, 2011. He was the beloved husband and best friend of Lesley (nee McKay), loving father to Frank and Joanna Braun of Listowel, ON and Anthony and Jessica Braun of London, ON. Opa loved his grandchildren, Kyla, Jared, Zachary, David, Katie, Meggie and Jack. He was a special Unk to Nancy Curran (Brian Alexander) and family and Marianne Bayer (Tim Trotter). Frank was a brother-in-law to Lynn and Elisabeth McKay and family of Thunder Bay, ON, Cathy and Perry Mason and family of Dartmouth, N.S., and Carol and Frank George and family of Calgary, AB. He will be missed by Bessie Rutter of Dartmouth, N.S., cousins in Ohio and Massachusetts, as well as many friends and business associates. Frank was predeceased by his parents Anton and Barbara Braun, his sister Mary Bayer and brother-in-law John Bayer, and son John Patrick Braun. Frank was the former owner and President of A.J. Braun Mfg. Limited, FJ Leasing and Braun Developments Limited. He worked in the metal fabrication business for 46 years before retiring in 2001. His creative mind designed, then patented and manufactured expansion joints for concrete structures, utilized in many bridges and parking structures throughout Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan. His attention to quality product earned him the nickname of "king of expansion joints". He was a former member of the Ontario Bridge Joint Manufacturers Association, the American Concrete Institute and sub-committees 554 and 504, the International Joints and Bearings Research Council and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. His away from work passion, was the beloved family cottage at Point Clarke on Lake Huron. For over 50 years, he enjoyed designing and renovating it numerous times. Holidays meant construction projects. His garage tool collection was the envy of the neighbours, who called him the local "Tool Man". Again, quality workmanship was important. Many of these construction skills he passed on to his sons. Frank will be remembered as a man of dignity and integrity, for his gentle spirit, his sense of humour, his pride and love of family and intense card playing skills. Please share your memory stories of Frank with the family at the Erb and Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street South, Waterloo (519-745-8445) on Friday, July 15th, 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m. Cremation has occurred. A private family interment at Woodland Cemetery will happen before the Memorial service. The Memorial service will be held at Rockway Mennonite Church, 32 Weber Street West, Kitchener (facilities shared with Zion United Church) on Saturday, July 16th at 3:00 p.m. The family expresses their gratitude to the 5th floor staff of St. Mary's Hospital for their compassionate care of Frank during these past several weeks. To honour Frank's memory, donations may be made through the funeral home to the Parkinson's Society of Canada, St. Mary's Hospital Foundation (St. Mary's Cardiac Care Unit) or Rockway Mennonite Church. Donations may be arranged through the funeral home on site or www.erbgood.com