Gwendolyn M. Braff, age 90, of Minnetonka passed away April 15, 2024. She was a resident at Rivers of Life Memory Care in Savage, MN.
Gwen was born in 1933 on a farm in Thompson, Iowa. She was the oldest of three girls born to Elmer and Jeniva Howe. Her fondest memories were having a school on the farm during the summer where kids from neighboring farms could come and learn. She wished there was a way to easily copy work sheets back then. She graduated from Thompson High School. The school year was filled with activities like cheer leading, basketball, and going to the show or roller skating on a Friday night. She attended Luther College and received a limited teaching certificate. Her first teaching contract was in Carpenter, Iowa where she taught 5 th and 6 th grade.
One summer, she and her high school friend got jobs working for the phone company in Minneapolis. She met John at the Marigold Ball Room. John was a traveling salesman and expanded his territory to include northern Iowa.
Gwen married John Braff in 1953 and they lived in Elmo Park Apartments in Hopkins, a small house in St. Louis Park, and for 58 years a home in the Minnetonka. John was the Traffic Manager for Red Owl Stores and retired as President of the Sharepoint Credit Union in Hopkins. They had four children, two boys and two girls in seven years.
Once her own children were well established in school, Gwen returned to her love of teaching. She was a preschool teacher at Jack and Jill Nursery School in Hopkins for a couple of decades and at Oak Knoll Lutheran Church in Minnetonka. Once she retired, she continued to volunteer at the preschool into her early 80’s.
She and John were members of Oak Knoll Lutheran since 1957. Gwen was active in the church teaching Sunday school, serving communion, counting the offering, and organizing funeral lunches.
Gwen lived at Rivers of Life in Savage, MN for almost three years. She was well cared for and her family is grateful for the nurses, aids, cooks, and staff who gave her a loving community and a home.
Gwen is preceded in death by her husband John, parents Elmer & Jeniva Howe; and her sister, Sharan Frandle Boone. She is survived by her sister Erma Hill; her children John Braff, Terry Nicholson (Ray), Tim Braff (Che Lisa), and Laurel Young; daughter-in-law Lisa Thoen (Brad); grandsons Ben Braff (Dawn Monahan), Sam Braff, Jay Braff, Robert Nicholson, Adam Nelson, Alec Nelson, and TJ Nicholson (Amanda) and great granddaughter Teagan Nicholson.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Oak Knoll Lutheran Church in Minnetonka on August 30 at 11:00 A.M. with a visitation at 10:00. The church is located at 600 Hopkins Crossroad, Minnetonka, MN 55305.
Gwen loved flowers. She also had a passion for children’s books. Consider donating books to the preschool at Oak Knoll Lutheran Church. Bring the books to her service in August or send to 2140 Stahlke Way, Chaska, MN 55318. A gift registry at Amazon has been created by the preschool director if you need suggestions and books will automatically be sent to the above address. Search registries for Gwen Braff or Oak Knoll Library Preschool.
https://www.amazon.com/
