Myron Nyle Braaten

Myron Nyle Braaten, age 80, passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2006 at the Vernon Memorial Hospital in Viroqua after a massive stroke. He was born April 9, 1926 in rural Readstown to Ole and Nora (Jackson) Braaten. He graduated from Readstown High School as salutatorian of his class in 1944. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII and was in Japan and the South Pacific where he was a ranking sharp shooter. He was a member of the Viroqua V.F.W. and American Legion. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service and retired from his position of rural mail carrier after 31 years. He was so well liked by the people he served, as Mike would always do the extra things to make sure that the mail was delivered with the care that he always gave to everything he did. He had carried mail on the Readstown, Soldiers Grove and Richland Center rural routes. Mike was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, and was a faithful member of the Franklin Lutheran Church in Folsom, WI. He was a special friend to the members there, and on his 80th birthday, one day before he suffered a massive stroke, he was honored by the church members and Sunday school children and his brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews and friends. He was an avid hunter, and enjoyed deer hunting and turkey hunting. He spent much of his retirement in helping his many nieces and nephews in any way that he could whether it be in the hayfield, or the tobacco field, or making sure he was available anytime any family member needed help in moving, or snow removal, lawn mowing, whatever family needs were, Mike was there with his generosity. Mike is survived by one brother, Obed (Myrtle) Braaten of Viroqua and five sisters: Naomi McDaniel, Phyllis (Selmer) Jacobson, Rebecca Erickson and Beverly Fredrick, all of Viroqua, and Deanna (Merrill) Gardner of Onalaska; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Braaten and Nellie Braaten, both of Viroqua. His many nieces and nephews include: Ronnie and Donna Braaten, Rhonda and Alex Hanifl, Ole and Nancy Braaten, Sharon and John Grim, Linda and Larry Everson, Richard McDaniel, Lisa and Mark Olsen, Scott Braaten, Gary and Carolyn Jacobson, Mark and Tania Jacobson, Brian and Jeanne Jacobson, Craig and Ruby Jacobson, Nora and Ryan Christianson, Norine Fredrick, Kimberly Fredrick, David Fredrick, Christopher and Teri Lynn Fredrick, Aaron Gardner, Nathan and Lori Gardner, Becky (Basil) Van Dieman, and many great and great great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ole and Nora (Jackson) Braaten; brothers, Kermit Braaten and Norman Braaten; brothers-in-law, George McDaniel, Wesley Erickson and Robert Fredrick; and niece, Debra Jacobson. Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 24, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at Franklin Lutheran Church at Folsom with Pastor Peter Beckstrand officiating. Burial with military rites by the Running-Johnson-Ray Viroqua VFW Post #3032 and the Jacobson-Olson Viroqua American Legion Post #138 will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may call on Sunday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home, 123 W. Decker St. (Hwy 56) in Viroqua. Friends may also call at the church on Monday after 10:00 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Franklin Lutheran Church or the organization of your choice. The Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home of Viroqua is serving the family.