Paul Robert Brauneis

Former Talkeetna resident Paul Robert Brauneis, 70, died Sept. 9, 2005, at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, of endocarditis.

A graveside service with full military honors will be held at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 2, at Pioneer Cemetery in Palmer. There will be a celebration of life immediately following at 2 p.m., at the VFW Post in Wasilla.

Mr. Brauneis was born Oct. 30, 1934, in Boston, to the late Paul and Blanche (Perry) Brauneis. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on July 2, 1952, at the age of 17. His service took him to Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada, where he met and married his wife of 50 years, Lillian Margaret (Peggy) Robinson, on Jan. 18, 1955.

The Air Force took him and his family to Maine, Japan, Florida, and, following his tour in Vietnam (1966-76), to Alaska in September 1967. Mr. Brauneis retired as a tech sergeant from the Air Force on July 2, 1972.

He then worked as a truck driver for Peters Creek Fuel until 1978, when he retired from the work force. He resided in Anchorage from 1967-1968, moved to Eagle River from 1969-1983, to Wasilla from 1983-1993 and finally to Talkeetna from 1993-2003. He then moved to Port Angeles, Wash., where he and his wife resided for the summers and spent their winters in Mesa, Ariz.

Mr. Brauneis was a lifetime member of VFW Post 3836 of Talkeetna. He was a proud member of the National Rifle Association, USAF Sergeants Association and the Upper Susitna Senior Center in Talkeetna.

He loved to hunt and fish, doing both avidly for all his years in Alaska. He shot on many Air Force teams as a competitive pistol shooter and was a qualified expert marksman in the Air Force. He liked to weld, fix and fabricate things in his shop. He also liked to volunteer his time to help with countless community projects.

His family wrote, "After years of being sent all over the world, Paul found his home here in Alaska. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed his many hunting, fishing and camping trips. He was a supportive Dad and a loving, devoted husband. He liked being a grandfather and enjoyed a good rapport with all his grandchildren.

"Paul was always willing to lend a hand to a family member, a friend or the community to get a job done. He was a great volunteer. He always put his family first. He was proud of his military service. He was a hard worker - he worked hard his whole life, and passed that attitude on to his children. Above all, he loved his wife and was proud of her. His smile, laugh, jokes and friendly attitude will be missed. He was a man to 'ride the river' with."

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Peggy Brauneis of Port Angeles, Wash.; daughter, Terry Simpson of Palmer; son and wife, Jack and Paula Brauneis of Anchorage; son and fiancée, Paul Brauneis and Sheri Mattson of Wasilla; brother and wife, David and Alice Brauneis; sisters, Beverly Ruggles of Florida, Barbara LeVigne and Sally Shannon, both of Massachusetts; grandsons, Jake Simpson, Dustin Brauneis, Derek Brauneis, Devin Brewington, Ryan Casey and Connor Mattson, all of Alaska, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by both his parents; a sister, Shirley Sorafine, and his granddaughter, Deanna Brauneis.

Arrangements were with Sequim Valley Chapel in Sequim, Wash.