Born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin on February 25th, 1926, Bill grew up in Des Moines and Marshalltown Iowa. In 1944, Bill became a Naval air cadet and then had a reserve commission after the conclusion of WWII. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1948 with a BS in mechanical engineering and then followed up with a Masters degree in business from Northeastern University in 1976.
Bill joined the ranks of Johnson Controls Inc. in 1948 as a sales engineer working first in Denver where he met and later married Lorna N. Spear. Eventually, he became Corporate Vice President and Controls Division Vice President of Sales at Johnson Controls and fully retired in 1988 after 40 years.
Bill has been a member of the Rotary Club, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and served on committees and boards of various organizations and charitable groups. He loved to ski, play golf, swim, and was a master WWI model airplane maker.
Preceded in death by his wife Lorna Braak and daughter Nancy Braak, he leaves behind a loving wife Darlene Braak and his three children Gregory Braak, Douglas Braak and Janine Peregrine. He is survived by siblings Skip Braak, and Father Thomas Braak, and grandchildren Erin Howard and Lauren Peregrine.
Funeral services will be held at Divine Redeemer Church 12/16/2016 at 11 am.
Reception will follow.
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