WILLIAM JOSEPH “BILL” BRAUKMANN was born July 13, 1918 in Red Elm, South Dakota, the son of German immigrants, the late Bernard and Franciska (Budde) Braukmann. At the age of one year old he moved with his family to Butler, Minnesota, where he was raised and received his education.
He was a Veteran of World War II, having joined the United States Army on February 5, 1938 at Fort MacArthur, California. Bill served for three years, until receiving his discharge on February 4, 1941 from the Anti Tank Company, 38th Infantry at the rank of Corporal. Bill served a second tour of duty starting in 1941, with the 876" Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battery, until receiving his discharge on September 9, 1945 at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, at the rank of Sergeant. He received several citations including the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star and seven Overseas Service Bars.
He was united in marriage to Evelyn Marie De Clerck on November 21, 1944 in Butler, Minnesota. Following their marriage they resided in Minnesota, until 1947 when they moved to Oregon, settling in the Verboort community. In 1965 they moved to the Roy community, where they resided for twenty five years until 1990 when they moved to their home in Hillsboro.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn, on April 18, 1991 at Hillsboro, Oregon, after celebrating over forty-eight years of marriage together.
On July 16, 1994, he was united in marriage to Edna Ott Meier at Vista, California. Following their marriage they resided in Vista. Bill later resided in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania before returning to Oregon in 2005.
He worked in the construction trade, building hundreds of homes and farm buildings in the Tualatin Valley. Bill also engaged in cattle, dairy and truck farming and later worked as a tax appraiser for Washington County for several years.
Bill was a lifelong member of the Catholic Church, having been a member of the Visitation Parish in Verboort, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Forest Grove Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. #2440, and the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.
He was also preceded in death by his parents, his four brothers, John Braukmann, Bernard “Bennie” Braukmann, Henry Braukmann, and Frank Braukmann and his two sisters, Ann Kramer and Mary Cramer.
Survivors include his three sons and daughters-in-law, Randy and Lydia Braukmann, of Hillsboro, Oregon; Curtis and Patrizia Braukmann, of Overland Park, Kansas; and Allen and Laura Braukmann, of Hillsboro, Oregon; his daughter and sonin-law, LeLani and Richard “Dick” Nussbaumer, of Verboort, Oregon and his sister, Gertrude “Gertie” De Clerck, of Bend, Oregon.
Also surviving are nine grandchildren and their spouses, Anna Braukmann and Marie Braukmann both of Overland Park, Kansas; Shane Nussbaumer and Stephanie Miller, of Verboort, Oregon; Jason and Glynis Nussbaumer, of Beaverton, Oregon; Paul Braukmann, of Verboort, Oregon; Lisa and Sean Clark, of Rainier, Oregon; Jeffrey Braukmann, of Forest Grove, Oregon; Matthew Braukmann and his fiancée, Michelle Jensen, of Billings, Montana; and Michael Braukmann, of Cornelius, Oregon; six great-grandchildren, Caden Nussbaumer and Dylan Nussbaumer, both of Beaverton, Oregon; Nicholas Clark, Hannah Clark and Megan Clark, all of Rainier, Oregon; and Avria Braukmann, of Hillsboro, Oregon; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family suggests that remembrances may be contributions to the Visitation School Endowment Fund, 4247 N.W. Visitation Road, Forest Grove, Oregon 97116, in his memory.