Neligh News and Leader, August 12, 1998

William BRANEN

Private family funeral services for William (Bill) Branen, 90, of Neligh, were held Sunday, August 9, at Beyer Funeral Home in Neligh. Rev. Carol James officiated. Burial was in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Neligh. Serving as pallbearers were Albert Gurnsey, James Strauss, Donald Fuller, Marlan Heerman, James Wiegand and Lowell Heller.

William Albert Branen, son of Harry and Catherine (Reynolds) Branen, was born May 24, 1908, at the Grecian Bend area west of Neligh. He attended school at District #15 east of Neligh. On May 26, 1928, he married Wilma Clark at the Antelope County courthouse in Neligh. The couple farmed east of Neligh and, after his wife's death on January 2, 1978, Mr. Branen continued to live on the farm until becoming a resident of the Neligh Nursing Center in May of this year. Mr. Branen died Thursday, August 6, 1998, at Antelope Memorial Hospital in Neligh. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and three sisters.

Survivors include two daughters, Merna Grayce Priestly of Norfolk and Mrs. Robert (Betty Lou) Lundquist of Neligh; a son, Jay Branen of Neligh; six grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren; two sisters, Catherine Fuller of Clearwater and Clara Gurnsey of Bassett; and a brother, Howard Branen of Sioux Falls, So. Dak.