Roll Call Tribute

(Published in) Victoria Advocate (on) October 27, 2014

Frank Brauner, Jr.
Born on Feb. 1, 1927

LA GRANGE - Frank Brauner, Jr., 87, of La Grange, Texas, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 25, 2014.

Frank was born in Schulenburg, Texas on February 1, 1927, the son of Frank Brauner, Sr. and Olga (Hrncir) Brauner-Wiegreffe.

Frank served in the U.S. Naval Service-Coast Guard on the Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba and naval ship, USS Breckinridge. He enlisted in January, 1945 and was honorably discharged as a Seaman First Class in May, 1946. He married Barbara Elizabeth Dybala on June 23, 1958 in Ganado, Texas.

Frank received his Master's Degree in Education. His teaching career began in Kociusko, Texas and then in Ganado, Texas where he met Barbara. He and Barbara then moved to Corpus Christi, Texas continuing his teaching career and then they moved to La Grange where he taught Science for seventeen years at La Grange I.S.D. Frank retired with a total of thirty-one years of service.

Frank was a member of Sacred Heart Church, Sacred Heart Church Counsel and Knights of Columbus. He served as a Faithful Navigator, 4th degree Knight and Grand Knight. He was a member of VFW Post #5254 serving as Commander of the post and as the Chaplain for VFW District #28.

Frank's many hobbies included saltwater fishing, deer hunting and gardening.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, of 56 years; daughter, Carol Ann Smolik and husband, Wesley, of El Campo, TX; son, Frank Edward Brauner and wife, Angie, of Fleming Island, FL; son, Mark D. Brauner and wife, Sierra, of Round Rock, TX; and daughter, Dianne E. Carnley and husband, Albert, of McKinney, TX; sister, Marilyn Botelho of Corpus Christi, TX; five grandchildren: Joe Brauner and wife, Vivian, of Powder Springs, Georgia; Allison Moses and husband, John, of Jacksonville, FL; Wes Smolik of El Campo, TX; Hannah Carnley of McKinney, TX; and Grace Carnley of McKinney, TX; great grandson, Braxton Price; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Matthew Brauner; sister, Joyce Clark; two brothers-in-law: Edward Botelho and O.C. Clark; and step father, Frank E. Wiegreffe.

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 27, 2014 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Koenig & Strickland Funeral Home. Family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. A rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m.

Funeral Services will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 539 E. Pearl St., La, Grange, Texas, at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 28, 2014. Burial will follow at La Grange City Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Brazos Valley, 1048 N. Jefferson, La Grange, TX 78945; Sacred Heart Catholic School, 545 E. Pearl St., La Grange, TX 78945; Court Annunciation #1962, Catholic Daughters of the Americas Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 275, La Grange, TX 78945; or a charity of one's choice.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Koenig & Strickland Funeral Home, 208 W. Pearl, La Grange, Texas. Family and friends can view and sign the guestbook online at www.lagrangefunerals.com.