In Memory of
DONALD P BRANDA
MAY 1, 1925 - NOVEMBER 25, 2018
Donald Peter Branda was born May 1, 1925 during the days of Charlie Chaplin and silent movies. He was the fourth of five children born to his Norwegian father Hans and his Scottish mother Katie. He spent his early life in the Gaston and Cherry Grove areas of Oregon, living in a simple dirt floor house on a farm that provided ample food for the family during the depression years.
After a hip infection at the age of three forced him to stay in Portland with family for months of recovery after surgery, he returned to his home not recognizing his father until the family dog came to welcome him. He grew up fishing and hunting, enjoying camping and everything outdoors. In 1955 he married Mary Berndt and started their family of three children, one son and two daughters. They made their home in Forest Grove where he owned a Shell Service station, later going to work for Tektronix. He was active in Rotary, Chamber, 52 years in the Elks and all things Forest Grove. Through his many years singing with the Forest Grove Gleemen and Girls, he and the family were involved in all aspects of the Gay 90's celebrations and the Northwest Barbershop Contest.
When the Gleemen and Girls were invited to represent the United States in the Saltzburg Music Festival in Austria, Don and Mary spent three weeks traveling Europe and had the opportunity to meet Princess Grace of Monaco. In later years, they continued to enjoy travel around the U.S., spending 12 Winters in Arizona. Don earned his ham radio license and enjoyed talking to people all over the world until a stroke robbed him of the easy conversation he had always enjoyed. His farthest reach was a conversation with one of the astronauts on the space shuttle in April of 1983.
Don finished his time on Earth in the company of his wife Mary, three children and their spouses, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He died peacefully in the family home of 63 years.
DONALD P BRANDA
MAY 1, 1925 - NOVEMBER 25, 2018
Donald Peter Branda was born May 1, 1925 during the days of Charlie Chaplin and silent movies. He was the fourth of five children born to his Norwegian father Hans and his Scottish mother Katie. He spent his early life in the Gaston and Cherry Grove areas of Oregon, living in a simple dirt floor house on a farm that provided ample food for the family during the depression years.
After a hip infection at the age of three forced him to stay in Portland with family for months of recovery after surgery, he returned to his home not recognizing his father until the family dog came to welcome him. He grew up fishing and hunting, enjoying camping and everything outdoors. In 1955 he married Mary Berndt and started their family of three children, one son and two daughters. They made their home in Forest Grove where he owned a Shell Service station, later going to work for Tektronix. He was active in Rotary, Chamber, 52 years in the Elks and all things Forest Grove. Through his many years singing with the Forest Grove Gleemen and Girls, he and the family were involved in all aspects of the Gay 90's celebrations and the Northwest Barbershop Contest.
When the Gleemen and Girls were invited to represent the United States in the Saltzburg Music Festival in Austria, Don and Mary spent three weeks traveling Europe and had the opportunity to meet Princess Grace of Monaco. In later years, they continued to enjoy travel around the U.S., spending 12 Winters in Arizona. Don earned his ham radio license and enjoyed talking to people all over the world until a stroke robbed him of the easy conversation he had always enjoyed. His farthest reach was a conversation with one of the astronauts on the space shuttle in April of 1983.
Don finished his time on Earth in the company of his wife Mary, three children and their spouses, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He died peacefully in the family home of 63 years.
In Memory of
DONALD P BRANDA
MAY 1, 1925 - NOVEMBER 25, 2018
Donald Peter Branda was born May 1, 1925 during the days of Charlie Chaplin and silent movies. He was the fourth of five children born to his Norwegian father Hans and his Scottish mother Katie. He spent his early life in the Gaston and Cherry Grove areas of Oregon, living in a simple dirt floor house on a farm that provided ample food for the family during the depression years.
After a hip infection at the age of three forced him to stay in Portland with family for months of recovery after surgery, he returned to his home not recognizing his father until the family dog came to welcome him. He grew up fishing and hunting, enjoying camping and everything outdoors. In 1955 he married Mary Berndt and started their family of three children, one son and two daughters. They made their home in Forest Grove where he owned a Shell Service station, later going to work for Tektronix. He was active in Rotary, Chamber, 52 years in the Elks and all things Forest Grove. Through his many years singing with the Forest Grove Gleemen and Girls, he and the family were involved in all aspects of the Gay 90's celebrations and the Northwest Barbershop Contest.
When the Gleemen and Girls were invited to represent the United States in the Saltzburg Music Festival in Austria, Don and Mary spent three weeks traveling Europe and had the opportunity to meet Princess Grace of Monaco. In later years, they continued to enjoy travel around the U.S., spending 12 Winters in Arizona. Don earned his ham radio license and enjoyed talking to people all over the world until a stroke robbed him of the easy conversation he had always enjoyed. His farthest reach was a conversation with one of the astronauts on the space shuttle in April of 1983.
Don finished his time on Earth in the company of his wife Mary, three children and their spouses, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He died peacefully in the family home of 63 years.
DONALD P BRANDA
MAY 1, 1925 - NOVEMBER 25, 2018
Donald Peter Branda was born May 1, 1925 during the days of Charlie Chaplin and silent movies. He was the fourth of five children born to his Norwegian father Hans and his Scottish mother Katie. He spent his early life in the Gaston and Cherry Grove areas of Oregon, living in a simple dirt floor house on a farm that provided ample food for the family during the depression years.
After a hip infection at the age of three forced him to stay in Portland with family for months of recovery after surgery, he returned to his home not recognizing his father until the family dog came to welcome him. He grew up fishing and hunting, enjoying camping and everything outdoors. In 1955 he married Mary Berndt and started their family of three children, one son and two daughters. They made their home in Forest Grove where he owned a Shell Service station, later going to work for Tektronix. He was active in Rotary, Chamber, 52 years in the Elks and all things Forest Grove. Through his many years singing with the Forest Grove Gleemen and Girls, he and the family were involved in all aspects of the Gay 90's celebrations and the Northwest Barbershop Contest.
When the Gleemen and Girls were invited to represent the United States in the Saltzburg Music Festival in Austria, Don and Mary spent three weeks traveling Europe and had the opportunity to meet Princess Grace of Monaco. In later years, they continued to enjoy travel around the U.S., spending 12 Winters in Arizona. Don earned his ham radio license and enjoyed talking to people all over the world until a stroke robbed him of the easy conversation he had always enjoyed. His farthest reach was a conversation with one of the astronauts on the space shuttle in April of 1983.
Don finished his time on Earth in the company of his wife Mary, three children and their spouses, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He died peacefully in the family home of 63 years.
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