Date of Birth: June 30, 1921
Date of Death: September 7, 2016
Edward David Braden, 95 years of age, of the Tulleymet district, entered his eternal rest peacefully with his wife of 69 years, Rose, by his side at the Balcarres Integrated Health Centre on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016.
Ed, or GeeGee as he was fondly known, was born June 30, 1921 in the Tulleymet district to Joseph and Mary (Krushelnicki) Braden. He grew up on the family farm working with his mother, father and big brother, Charlie. He attended school at Dramague School until Grade 8.
In 1940 he enlisted in the armed forces and was stationed on Canada’s West Coast as an RCAF gunner. He was honorably discharged and returned to the family farm in 1944. He was very proud of being a soldier, having served the country he dearly loved, Canada.
In 1946 at a dance, he met Rose Mandziak and in 1947 on June 8 they were married. Together they farmed and raised a very busy family of four girls, Iris, Dudie, Gail and Bonnie.
Ed and Rose ran a mixed farming operation. Ed was a very talented Mr. Fix-It. He could repair anything and often did. He could fix a motor and weld a mean bead. In his younger years he built many roads and cleared a lot of land “pushing bush” with his DC9 caterpillar.
Ed and Rose worked side-by-side milking cows when they had a dairy, herding Angus cattle on cattle drives from one farm to another and hauling bales and raising chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, horses and the occasional deer or two.
Ed was an enthusiastic volunteer in his community. He was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus, a baseball umpire and devoted worker at many events. He was a lover of all sports. He was an avid curler, golfer and hunter/fisherman. In 1950 he went to the Brier where for the first time he saw curlers using a slider. He purchased one and on Ituna ice he instructed many young curlers how to slide, including his children, his nephew, Henry, and his future son-in-law, Leonard. He won many bonspiels with his young protégés and had many of his games broadcast on the radio, which was very exciting. As a hunter and fisherman he bagged many a buck and snagged a lot of fish. Once, from his front yard, he shot two deer standing side-by-side with only one bullet.
To GeeGee, his grandchildren and later his great-grandchildren were the light of his life. He was extremely proud of their accomplishments and highly applauded their many combined years of post secondary education. As he did with his children, he and Rose drove many miles to attend their convocations and to watch them participate in all their activities including hockey, baseball/softball, curling, ballet, Ukrainian dancing, speed skating, speed swimming, volleyball, basketball and football, just to name a few. He drove bus for the Ituna Trojan football team and he and Rose never missed a Melville Cobras football game when son-in-law Bob coached.
Ed loved dancing, socializing, kibitzing, practical jokes and teasing just about everyone from cradle to senior. He and his son-in-law, John, spent many hours together discussing everything from politics to religion. He enjoyed card games — bridge, 3-spot, wagon and the occasional poker game, too. He had a passion for laughter and compassion for all, but above all, family was everything.
Ed lived his 95 years to the fullest. He travelled, he loved, was loved and lived his life with zest.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Bonnie; and sons-in-law, Barry Leontowicz and Frank Lang; his mother and father; brothers, Charlie, Phil, Earl; and sister, Alvina; and his special maternal uncles, Pete and Joe Krushelnicki.
He is survived by his loving wife, Rose; daughter, Iris (John) LeBoldus, children: Wendy (Dr. Kim) Grymaloski, Shayla, Aleah and Larissa; daughter, Pamela (Chris) Ortman, Brenden and Arden, Johnathon (Kendra) LeBoldus, Andrew and Hannah; daughter, Dudie (Leonard) Wasyluk, children: Jeff (Ronda), Len (Deana) Taya and Thayne; daughter, Jennifer (Tyler) McGeough, Kruise and Reece; daughter, Gail (Bob) Simpson, children: Blair (Erin) Brady, Isabelle, Blake; daughter, Kerry (Dr. Arne) Dankers, Blythe and Simone; daughter, Jody (Eric) Mann and their pet, Hank, grandson Kyle (Chandra) Leontowicz.
He will also be dearly missed by his nieces and nephews including, Joey (Karen) Dawson, Carmen (Ted) Remenda and Lance Dawson.
Funeral mass was held on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016 at St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church in Ituna with Rev. Fr. Albert Schmitz as the celebrant. The cross bearer was Blair Simpson. The organist, Paulette Van der Helm, accompanied St. Stanislaus choir in the singing of the hymns. The lectors were John LeBoldus and Dudie Wasyluk. Prayers of Faithful were offered by Kerry Dankers and Jody Mann. The gift bearers were Pamela Ortman and Jeffery Wasyluk.
Members of the Knights of Columbus led in the Holy Rosary and participated in an honour guard. All the grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the honorary pallbearers.
Interment took place in the Ituna R.C.Cemetery with Iris LeBoldus serving as the urn bearer. Following a memorial reception, Iris LeBoldus shared reflections of her father’s life and offered words of appreciation to all. Memorials in memory of Edward may be made to the Ituna R.C. Cemetery Fund. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.baileysfuneralhome.com
