Gary "Barrel" Braund

Gary L. Braund, 72, of Onalaska, Wis., passed away on Tuesday, January 13, 2015, at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center. He was born in Kenosha, Wis., to Theodore M. and Irene R. (Grover) Braund. Before moving to Onalaska from Kendall, Wis., in 1956, Gary attended Kendall Public School until 8th grade and later graduated from Onalaska High School in 1960.

Following high school, Gary began working as a truck driver, then lumber grader, at Smith Tie & Lumber before returning to work with his father and brother at Medary Lumber Company making oak flooring and moldings. Gary, along with his brother, Rodney, and nephews, John and Jarrod, built a successful hardware and lumber business, Braund Building Center, in Onalaska where you could always find Gary telling one of his famous stories that seemed to go on and on.

Gary, “Barrel” as many knew him, was an avid bowler, fisherman, hunter, and trap shooter who enjoyed watching the Badgers and the Packers and tipping one back at the Scoreboard. Gary was well known for his soft-spoken, friendly manner, his hard work ethic, especially his willingness to help others, and also his seemingly infinite knowledge of the history of Onalaska. He was a long-time member of St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Onalaska.

Gary is survived by his brother Rodney (Roberta) Braund and three nephews John (Jean), Jarrod, and Jason. He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Irene (Grover) Braund.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M., on Tuesday, January 20th, at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church, 1201 Main St., in Onalaska. Pastor Joshua Bodden will officiate. Burial will follow in the Onalaska City Cemetery. Friends may call on the family at the church on Monday evening from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. and again on Tuesday from 12 p.m. until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church or the Onalaska Emergency Foodbasket.