Reverend Virgil Robert Braun was born in Lake Henry Township, MN on October 20, 1933. He was the son of John and Susan Heinen Braun. Father Braun attended District 96 Elementary School in Lake Henry, Belgrade High School and Saint John's University. He received his seminary training at Saint John's Seminary, Collegeville, MN. Father Braun was ordained by The Most Reverend Peter W. Bartholome at Saint Mary's Cathedral, Saint Cloud, MN on June 4, 1960. He celebrated his First Mass in Saint Mary's Church, Melrose, MN on June 5, 1960

Father Braun served in the following pastoral assignments in the Diocese of Saint Cloud: associate pastor, St. Mary's Cathedral, St. Cloud, August 1960-August 1961; teacher at Cathedral High School, St. Cloud, August 1961-July 1971; pastor, St. Joseph, Morrill, July 1971-July 1980; St. Marcus, Clear Lake, July 1980-July 1992; administrator, St. Ann, Brandon, July 1992-August 1992; pastor, Assumption, Eden Valley, August 1992-January 1,2013. Father Braun retired January 1, 2013.

Father Braun also served as Chaplain for the Saint Cloud Hospital, 1968-1969 and a member of the Priest's Personnel Board, 1988-1994.

Father Braun died on February 22, 2013, at Saint Cloud Hospital, Saint Cloud, MN. A Vigil Service will be held on Tuesday, February 26, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of the Assumption, Eden Valley, MN.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Church of Saint Augustine, Saint Cloud, MN on February 27, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. with The Most Reverend John F. Kinney presiding. Burial will be in Saint Margaret Cemetery, Lake Henry, MN.

Father Braun is survived by his brother Michael.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Aloys, Elmer, Walter, Othmar, and Jerome, and sisters Alvina and Lucille.

Saint Cloud Times 2-26-2013