Ken graduated from Paseo High School in Kansas City, Missouri, attended Southwest Baptist Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Science Education from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.
Throughout his childhood, Ken and his family were active members of Forest Avenue Baptist Church in Kansas City, where he committed his life to Jesus as his Savior at an early age. After high school, Ken joined the U.S. Navy where he was trained as a Hospital Corpsman and assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps where he was stationed at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina and took part in tours of duty throughout the Mediterranean.
After graduating from UNC, and attending seminary, Ken was ordained a minister of the Gospel and pastored several churches in Kansas City and Denver, including a Messianic ministry, before serving the next 25 years as Vice Principal, Science Dept. Chairman, and Science Teacher at Aurora Christina Academy in Aurora, Colorado. After retiring from the Academy, Ken continues to work with young people as a substitute teacher for the Denver and Aurora Public School Districts.
"Mr. B" was honored by his many junior and senior high school students over the years, and they voted him "Teacher of the Year" at the Academy many times. One tribute dedicated to him by the students was affectionately titled "To Mr. B: The Man, The Myth, and The Legend" and recognized his commitment to provide excellent education, inspire academic achievement, encourage students to pursue their life goals, his dedication to the well-being and success of his students, and his encouragement for his young people as they committed their lives to follow Jesus. Ken personally initiated the Academy's high school football team, the "Angels" and served as its first coach; he also sponsored the Academy's Academic Honor Society.
During Ken's college days as a geology science student at UNC, he was able to enjoy his love of the Rocky Mountains and joined many field trips throughout Colorado. He was also involved in research and wrote some published reports on his findings regarding the negative and lasting after-effects of "clear-cutting" forests. Ken enjoyed camping with his family and trying to catch mountain stream trout. He led family hikes along mountain trails to the timber lines and boulder field of Longs Peak, one of Colorado's mountains and beautiful Trails Ridge areas near Estes Park.
Ken moved to Fort Myers, Florida in 2018 to be near his family. Though limited by his health, when able, Ken attended Christian Life Fellowship in Cape Coral with the family.
Ken's son and family were his pride and a blessing to him, and his grandchildren Victoria and Shayne were his great joy.
Everyone who knew Ken soon learned how deep his love for Scotland. Some of his happiest days were during his several visits to tour Scotland. He knew its history well, loved traditional Scottish music, enjoyed Scottish festivals, and the sound of the bagpipes thrilled him. A Scottish hymn was sure to make him smile.
However, Ken has no greater love than his love for Jesus. Over the years as a father and grandfather, pastor, teacher, neighbor and friend, Ken shared the good news of the Gospel of Jesus. He wanted all to know Jesus loves us and mends the broken hearted, heals the suffering, and with mercy and grace forgives the repenting sinner. Ken now has the eternal life by faith in Him alone.
Ken is remembered for the friendly, intelligent, kind, and dedicated person he was, and he is deeply missed.
Ken is survived by his son, Kenneth Ray Braunlich II and his wife Terri Lynn Braunlich and his granddaughter Victoria Patricia Braunlich of Cape Coral, Florida.
Also surviving Ken: his nieve, Jenyce Mae Hyskell, Centennial, CO; niece Carolynn Ruth Braunlich-Winchester, Valley Falls, KS; niece Shirley Elaine Braunlich, Lawrence, KS; nieve Jennifer Briscoe, Houston, TX; niece Janice Briscoe-Hawkins, Lenexa, KS; nephew William Paul (Billy) Braunlich, Grandview, MO; cousin Dorothy Willard-Wilson, Jonesboro, AK; and former wife, Sandra Braunlich-Shvedov, Cape Coral, FL.
Loved ones processing Ken include his father and mother William Herman Braunlich and Ruth Matilda Crockett-Braunlich; his grandson Shayne Michael Braunlich; his sister Barbara Braunlich-Briscoe and nephew Jason Briscoe, his brother Bill Braunlich.
The Celebration of Ken's Life will take place Monday, May 10th, at 10:00AM ET, at Coral Ridge Funeral Home located at 950 Chiquita Blvd S, Cape Coral, Florida. He will be laid to rest with veteran honors at Sarasota National Cemetery at 2:00PM ET at 9810 Hwy 72, Sarasota, Florida.
To leave an online condolence to the family, please visit our website at www.CoralRidgeFuneralHome.com
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.6