Frank W. Braun

Frank W. Braun, 79, of Cahokia, died March 19, 2016, at his residence, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born Jan. 16, 1937, in Centerville, son of the late George and Bertha Braun (nee Dehn).

Frank was the founder, owner, and operator of Braun Colonial Funeral Home and Ambulance Service in Cahokia, and Braun Family Funeral Home in Columbia.

He graduated from Worsham Mortuary School in 1960. He

was a funeral director for 56 years and a member of the British Institute of Embalmers.

He was a retired captain  for the Cahokia Volunteer Fire Department and he still served as the department’s chaplain. He was the president of the Cahokia Fire Protection District.

Frank was a member of Maplewood Park Baptist Church in Cahokia. He was very community oriented and supported many organizations and projects in Cahokia through the years.

He was also a member of the Polish Falcons, the Oddfellows and the Cahokia and Columbia Chambers of Commerce. He served as a deputy coroner for the St. Clair County Coroner’s Office for more than 40 years.

Surviving are his loving and devoted wife of 44 years, Emily Braun (nee Miller); his children, Mary (Kevin) Robbins of Cahokia, Kathy (Tom Laskowski) Nordike of Columbia, Jack (Chris) Veteto of Waterloo, and Peggy (Rick) Kenner of Cahokia; his two brothers, Fred (Joey) Braun of Belleville, and John (Joan) Braun of Fairview Heights; and one sister, Fern Bull of Swansea; 10 grandchildren, Dwayne (Terri) Kenner, Justin  (Shaina Dunn) Veteto, Ryan (Nicole) Nordike, Stephen (Ashley Radford) Robbins, Stephanie (Drew) Armstrong, Tiffany (John) Canull, Bradley (Ashley) Veteto, Nora (Curtis Cantrell) Nordike, Meg Nordike and Brendan  (Megan Crawford) Robbins: and 14 great-grandchildren, Dominic, Regan, Morgan, Brooke, Kenzie, Landon, Brody, Easton, Autumn, Liam,  Bentley, Triston, Larissa and Caylee. He was a dear brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Robert (Carmen) Braun; three sisters, Albertha Braun, Luella (John) Merchant and Lucille (Chester) Cory: his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Norman and Cecilia Miller; and brother-in-law Tom Bull.

Friends may call Monday, March 21, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Braun Colonial Funeral Home, Cahokia, with a fire department walk-through at 7 p.m.;  March 22, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Braun Family Funeral Home, Columbia; and March 23, from 9 to 10 a.m., at Maplewood Park Baptist Church, Cahokia.

Funeral services will be held March 23, at 10 a.m., at the church, with Father Paul Wienhoff,  Rev. John Annable, Dr. Rev. John Dawson, and Father Linus Umoren, C.M. officiating.

Interment will follow at Mount Carmel Cemetery, Belleville.

Memorials may be made to the Cahokia Volunteer Fire Department.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at braunfh.com.