Robert C. Braithwaite, 93, of Austin, died Monday Jan. 31, at the Austin Medical Center.

Robert was born May 27, 1917, in Saratoga Township, Winona County, the son of Clair and Selma (Erickson) Braithwait. He attended country school in the St. Charles area and farmed in the area. Robert was married to Lillian Margaret Dahl on Nov. 8, 1941, at Pilot Mound, Minn. In 1942 they moved to Austin, and he served in the US Army during WWII in the Pacific Rim. Following his time in the Army, Robert worked at Hormel Foods for 34 years until the time of his retirement. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Austin.

Robert had a number of hobbies including, reading, music and watching old shows and movies, as well as model trains, painting ceramics and fishing.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lillian; two brothers and two sisters.

He is survived by children; Susan and Ronald Mielke of Lansing, Nancy and Roger Oelkers of Brownsdale, Paul and Kathy Braithwaite of New Hampton, Annette Rysavy of Austin; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; sister, Clarice Dahl of St. Charles, Minn., nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday Feb. 3, at Grace Lutheran Church with the Reverend Pam Aandahl Solberg officiating. Interment will be at Grandview Cemetery with Austin Post 91 American Legion in charge of military rites.

Friends may call at the Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and at the church for one hour before the service on Thursday.