Henry W. Braun

Henry W. Braun passed away on Saturday, August , 5th , 2023, at the age of 94 years old, at Spring House Estates in Ambler, PA. He was born and raised in Philadelphia on 634 West Indiana Avenue, where he lived with his parents, the late Harry and Katherine Braun, his younger sister, the late, Doris (Baskin) as well as his grandfather, Wilhelm, and great Aunt “Tante” Stegmueller, who had immigrated from Germany.

Henry leaves a legacy of leadership, hard work, and compassion. His mantra was “early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”. He will also be remembered for his amazing smile. All who knew him remarked upon this feature.

Henry was born during the Great Depression and worked from a very young age to help support his family. He served in the U.S Army for the Army Corp of Engineers, SCARWAF, in Korea from 1951 to 1953. During his service, he attained the rank of Corporal, and he earned a Commendation of Merit, for Leadership, Knowledge and Devotion to Duty. Henry would remark in later years that his military service instilled in him values that shaped his character and his commitment to service.

After returning from Korea, Henry graduated with honors from Drexel University, Evening College, with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering while holding a full-time job at C.H. Wheeler Manufacturing Co. After 47 years with one company, Henry retired from Transamerica DeLaval & its predecessors (including C.H. Wheeler Manufacturing Co.). During his career at DeLaval, he worked his way up from errand and copier boy during high school to his final position as Manager of the Condenser Division of IMO Industries in Florence, N.J. where he was recognized as an eminent designer of submarine condensers for the U.S. Navy, Public Utilities, and Industry. Before his retirement in 1993, Henry received the coveted Carl Gustaf Patrik DeLaval Award for Outstanding Technological Achievement.

After retiring, Henry and his beloved late wife of 63 years, Ginny, moved to Spring House Estates in Ambler, PA. In these years, Henry enjoyed volunteer activities with Chestnut Hill Hospital's Meals on Wheels program and, did AARP Tax Consulting for the elderly. He also participated in many volunteer activities at Spring House Estates, including creating the inaugural Wii Bowling league there.

In his free time, Henry loved to fix things – we nicknamed him MacGyver; he could fix anything, sometimes much to his wife’s chagrin. There wasn’t a toaster, lamp or washing machine that he couldn’t repair. His toolbox was legendary. He was never without a mechanical pencil, paper, and a Swiss army knife in his shirt pocket, ready for anything. This habit stayed with him until his last days. Henry also loved dogs (his beloved pets: Spot, Billy and Pongo will greet him in heaven). In addition, he enjoyed ping pong, watching sports, newspaper crossword puzzles and word jumbles, and Jeopardy (he was a wiz). He was an avid reader and follower of news and politics. He also loved the History Channel. His fondest memories were of many vacations spent with family and friends at Loon Lake in the Adirondacks, NY. He also created many wonderful memories after retirement, traveling around the country with his wife, as well as a well-loved, European Tour of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Despite his reserve, he had a surprisingly silly streak and was quite a prankster – wearing hats and costumes and relishing good-natured teasing of his family members. His children remember him for his fun-loving nature as well as his intelligence, his strength, his principles, discipline, dedication and most of all unconditional love and support. He was an amazing father and grandfather. He was happiest spending time with his family.

He is survived by his five adoring children: Karen (Jimmy) Smoots of Wilmington, DE; Linda (Jim) Heckman of Arlington, VA; Janet (Joe) Noone of Bel Air, MD; Pamela (Bill) Corcoran of Havertown, PA, and Michael (Colleen) Braun of Oreland, PA. He also leaves behind 12 loving grandchildren: Alyse (Dave) Thomas; Natalie and Steven Heckman; Colin, Ryan, and Jason Noone; Sydney, Paige, and Peter Corcoran; and Elle, Molly, and Casey Braun. He is predeceased by his loving wife, Ginny, and his sister, Doris (Carl) Baskin of Collegeville, PA.

A private memorial service will be held at Spring House Estates in Lower Gwynedd at a later date. Online condolences may be offered at https://www.shaeff-myers.com/. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his memory to ACTS Legacy Foundation designating Spring House Estates Samaritan Fund. Checks can be made payable to ACTS Legacy Foundation, 420 Delaware Drive, P.O. Box 2222, Ft. Washington, PA 19034 or online at https://www.actsretirement.org/acts-benevolence/acts-legacy-foundation-ways-to-give/ways-to-give/.