Robert Braaten

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Robert G. Braaten, 56
Robert Gene Braaten, 56, of Blooming Prairie, died on May 9, 2009 at his home in Blooming Prairie. He was born May 3, 1953, in Austin, the son of Dale Richard and Charlotte Rae (Hanson) Braaten. He attended school in Blooming Prairie, graduating from Blooming Prairie High School in 1971. On Feb. 26, 1972, he was united in marriage to Mary J. Plunkett in South Dakota. The couple made their home in Colorado for two years before returning to Blooming Prairie. Robert worked for Slidell in Owatonna, Minn., for 23 years and most recently enjoyed his work at Metal Services in Blooming Prairie. He loved fishing, golfing and spending time with family and friends, especially his five grandchildren. He had a great sense of humor and storytelling ability. He will be remembered for telling tales and his keen ability to build and fix anything.
Robert is survived by his wife, Mary J. Braaten, Blooming Prairie; three children, Melissa (Michael) Ressler and Jay (Kelly) Braaten all of Blooming Prairie and Joey (Lauren Benda) Braaten, Brookings, S.D.; five grandchildren, Jordan, Tommy, Jake, Abby and Jessica; his mother, Charlotte Braaten, Blooming Prairie; seven brothers and sisters, Steve (Becky) Braaten and Ron (Nancy Erickson) Braaten all of Blooming Prairie, Cindy (Tom) Grafe, Rochester, Barry (Jane) Braaten, Ellendale, Lori (Raymond) Luster, Cedar Hill, Texas, Brad (Dawn) Braaten and Brian Braaten, Rochester, Owatonna; mother-in-law, Sylvia Plunkett, Blooming Prairie; seven brothers and sisters-in-law, Jim (Loie) Plunkett, Geneva, Ted (Diane) Plunkett, Askov, Dorothy (Dick) Green, Blooming Prairie, Russ (Jackie) Plunkett, Woodbury, Ann (Tony) Chirikos, Boulder, Colo., Ken (Gail) Plunkett, Blooming Prairie and Dean (Nancy) Plunkett, Faribault; many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Dale Braaten and father-in-law, Frank Plunkett.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at the First Lutheran Church of Blooming Prairie with the Reverend Heidi Heimgartner and the Reverend Karl Korbel officiating. Interment will follow the service at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Cemetery, rural Blooming Prairie.  Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 12, at the Worlein-Blooming Prairie Funeral Home and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Honorary casket bearer will be Blaine Braaten and casket bearers will be Steve Braaten, Ron Braaten, Barry Braaten, Brad Braaten, Brian Braaten and Tom Grafe.

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