Gary Allen Braun, 58, of Stewartville, Minn., died on Monday, Aug. 13, 2012, at his home following a brief illness with cancer.

Gary was born Sept. 24, 1953, in Austin, Minn., to Daniel and Marietta (Janning) Braun. He grew up in Adams, Minn., where he attended Sacred Heart Elementary and Middle School and graduated from Adams High School in 1971. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving overseas in Vietnam and was stationed in Norfolk, Va., aboard the USS America. He was discharged in 1975 as a machinist’s mate. He returned to the Rochester area where he was employed at Stauffer Chemical and then at AMPI both in Rochester, Minn.

Gary was married on May 13, 1978, at Evanger Lutheran Church in rural Sargeant, Minn., to Carol Bungum. Following their marriage, the couple lived in Dodge Center for 10 years and Rochester for seven years before moving to Stewartville in 1995, where they have continued to make their home. Gary has been an Olmsted County employee for the past 26 years and was currently a maintenance supervisor at the Olmsted County Waste to Energy Facility in Rochester. Carol was a homemaker and daycare provider in their home before completing her teaching degree at Winona State in 1995, and has been a teacher in the Rochester area. Gary was a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church where he was active as an usher and in its Men’s Club. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Rochester and Local No. 49 of the Teamsters in Rochester. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, gardening, home projects, woodworking, stained glass and was able to fix most anything. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Gary is survived by his wife, Carol; their three daughters, Rebekah (Matthew) Lennon and grandchildren Thomas and Alexandria of Rochester, Holly (Kevin) Griffin and grandchildren Mary and Liam of rural Rochester, and Natalie (Kelly) Schreiner of Columbus, Ohio; his parents, Daniel and Marietta Braun of Adams; two sisters and two brothers, Robert (Jane) Braun of St. Paul, Minn., Kevin (Lori) Braun of Phoenix, Shirley (Rodney) Miller of Leroy, Minn., Laurie (Gerald) Reich of Rochester; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents and a niece, Kayla Koch.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 17, 2012, at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Stewartville with the rosary at 3:30 p.m., a prayer service at 7 p.m., and visitation one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday morning.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Gary will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012, at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Stewartville with Father Matt Fasnacht officiating. Burial with military graveside honors by the Stewartville American Legion will follow at Zion Lutheran Church’s cemetery in rural Dexter, Minn. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville; contact at www.griffin-gray.com.