Helen C. Braun
October 30, 2006

Helen C. Braun, age 86 of 418 Washington, died Monday, October 30, 2006 at 10:40 a.m. in Sunset Home.

She was born January 23, 1920 in Rock Island, IL, the daughter of Harry V. and Floretta L. Parker Clayburn. On November 1, 1947, she married Donald Braun in Chicago, IL. He preceded her in death on September 30, 2006.

Mrs. Braun was a graduate of McKinley High School in Chicago. She and her husband farmed 160 acres in Sheboygan, WI and there she also worked in a munitions factory during the Korean Conflict. She became a licensed real estate broker in Wisconsin. Mrs. Braun worked as an executive secretary for various companies including Meyer Material Co. and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. as an executive secretary. The Brauns loved traveling and she was a member of the Hawaiian Dance Troup called "The Barefoot Hawaiians".

She always had wide open arms and a big hug for all her grandchildren. Her granddaughters said of her that "she was always a classy lady". She loved life, lifesavers, chocolate and all things sparkly.

Survivors include a daughter, Gail Hermann and her husband Kim of Quincy; a son, David Braun and his wife Linda of Des Plaines, IL; 4 grandchildren Matthew Hermann and his wife Shannon of St. Louis, MO; Catherine Hermann of Chicago; Stephanie and Michelle Braun of Des Plaines, and a great-grandchild, Charles Richard Hermann of St. Louis, MO. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, 2 sisters Betty LaVey and Bernice Shanor and 2 brothers James and William Clayburn.

Visitation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. until time of services. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home with Iris Bell officiating. The family requests in lieu of flowers memorials be given to Sunset Home.

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