Obituary: Chrystal Jeanne (Pike) Braun
Chrystal Jeanne (Pike) Braun, 93,brof rural Grafton was called to eternal rest on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at ManlybrSpecialty Care. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 29thbrat Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Grafton, with Pastor Solveig A. H. Zamzowbrofficiating. Visitation will be held starting at 12:30pm with a luncheonbrfollowing burial. According to Chrystal’s wishes she has been cremated andbrburial will be at the Grafton Cemetery.
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Chrystal was born September 27,br1927 in Otranto Township, Mitchell County, the youngest of 12 children of Edwinbrand Mary (Johnson) Pike. She was baptized, confirmed (April 18, 1943) andbrmarried by Rev. Olaf A. Langehough at First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar.brChrystal attended all 12 years of school at St. Ansgar Schools and graduated inbr1945 as co-salutatorian of her class. She worked as a telephone operator,brworking at the Variety Store and Brooks Café & Bakery in St. Ansgar. OnbrDecember 23, 1945 Chrystal married Everett Arthur Braun at First Lutheran Churchbrin St. Ansgar, and he was her loving husband for 69 ½ years. They lived on thebrsame farm Northwest of Grafton all their married life, with Chrystal livingbrthere a total of 76 years.
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brChrystal was very active at Emmanuel Lutheran Church with the ALCW, serving onbrthe Executive Board for 4 years, Circle President many years, on the AltarbrGuild for 5 years and Sunday School teacher for 8 years. She helped with thebrnewsletters and bulletins for over 20 years, starting in 1990.
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brChrystal worked as a library aide in the Grafton Junior High School for 8bryears. She enjoyed bowling in a league for many years, loved working in herbrflower bed, baking and entertaining in her home. In retirement, Chrystalbrenjoyed helping in the office at Braun Industries in Grafton for many years.brBut what she most enjoyed was having her grandchildren and great-grandchildrenbrnear her, as well as her children, who were very close and dear to her.brChrystal and Everett loved attending all the ball games, concerts, and dancebrrecitals of their grandchildren over the years, especially spending time withbrthem at the Worth County Fair each summer. Chrystal enjoyed helping withbrwhatever was needed on the family farm, especially the baby animals, and wasbrknown in the area for her made-from-scratch hearty meals, pies and desserts.
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brLeft to cherish the memory of Chrystal’s life are her three sons and abrdaughter, and their families: Keith and wife, Sue (Wagner), of Northwood;brSteven and wife, Joan (Wilder), of St. Ansgar; Rita and husband, RichardbrBebler, of Mankato, MN; Christopher and wife, Teresa (Hanson), of Grafton. Shebris also survived by 12 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. Chrystal wasbrpreceded in death by Everett in 2015, her parents, and 11 brothers and sisters.br
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Memorials will be divided amongst some of her favoritebrcharities.
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Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, Northwood, 641-324-1121,brwww.schroederfuneralhomes.com
