E. Keith Brauen, 93, passed away January 29, 2022 at Bluffton Hospital. Keith was born December 24, 1928 north of Bluffton in Putnam County to Dennis and Cleo (Hauenstein) Brauen. On November 6, 1947, he married Esther L. Lugibihl who preceded him in death on April 5, 2018.
Keith was a 1947 graduate of Bluffton High School. He was a lifelong farmer. Keith had also been a commercial harvester, worked at Ex-Cello Corporation, Bluffton, Reichenbach Lumber, Bluffton. He also was a bus driver, welder and was a self-employed electrician/carpenter for 45 years.
Keith enjoyed working as a farmer, polka dancing, gospel music, mechanical work, his family history and Bluffton/Pandora history, and joining the 8 a.m. coffee group at the Beaverdam McDonalds. He loved and supported his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Keith was a member of First Mennonite Church, Bluffton since 1960 where he served many years as a trustee and usher. He also served on the Mennonite Brotherhood Aid Board and the Mennonite Mutual Insurance Board. Keith went on mission trips to Bogota, Columbia, SIM in North Carolina, Mennonite Disaster Service in South Carolina and Gulfport, Mississippi.
Survivors include ten children, Connie (Leland) Crouse of Ada, Julie (John) Mackey of Bluffton, Shirley Brauen of Bluffton, Merry (Gene) Augsburger of Pandora, Bill (Joan Graber) Brauen of Foley, Minnesota, David (Kathy Diller) Brauen of Bluffton, Chris (John) Hochstetler of Bluffton, Don (Jodi Basinger) Brauen of Bluffton, Betty (Gary) Augsburger of Pandora, Janet Brauen of Troy; twenty-three grandchildren, Michael (Nikki) Crouse, Randy (Stacy) Crouse, Cathy (Chad) Long, Laura (Greg) Hartzler, Amy (Jeff ) Shadbolt, John (Claire) Mackey, Katie (Jamie) Archer, Andrew (Ashley) Augsburger, Benjamin Brauen, Mary Brauen, Sarah (Shaun) Ransom, Sam (Janet) Brauen, Mark (Rhonda) Brauen, Brent Hochstetler, Tyler (Jade) Hochstetler, Andrea (Craig) Strayer, Ryan (Sara) Brauen, Jenny (Mike) Kaple, Rachel (Nathan) Davis, Jason (Brielle) Augsburger, Joshua (Alyssa) Augsburger, Emily Augsburger, Jacob (Jessica) Meckstroth; forty-four great-grandchildren and two on the way and one great-great grandson; a brother, Stanton Elwood (JoAnn Fett) Brauen of Puyallup, Washington and a brother-in-law, Stan Duitscher of Pearland, Texas.
Keith was preceded in death by his parents, Dennis and Cleo Brauen; his step-mother, Margaret (Miller) Brauen; his wife Esther Brauen; and a sister, Eileen Duitscher.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m, Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at First Mennonite Church,, Bluffton with William Herr and Pastor Jeff Boehr officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at the church. Masks will be mandatory at the visitation and funeral service at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Mennonite Church.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
