Claude Alvin Braden, age 84, of Gowen, went home to be with the Lord late Saturday evening, June 2, 2018 from Hathaway Hills Assisted Living in Greenville. The son of Kerry Clinton & Eva Nell (Holmden) Braden, he was born on March 3, 1934 in Harvard. Claude grew up in Gowen and attended Greenville Public Schools.
On September 6, 1957, in Belding, he married Ellen Gould and together they enjoyed almost 59 years of marriage and raised two children. Claude was a proud veteran of the United States Army serving during the Korean War. After returning home, he worked at the Ranney Refrigerator Company and after over twenty years, retired as a meat inspector with the United States Government.
Claude enjoyed watching Tiger’s baseball, occasional trips to the casino, and John Deere tractors; however, his greatest joy was his family and time he and Ellen spent taking care of their son, Stan, who was paralyzed in a swimming accident at the age of 18. Claude was blessed with two church families…Jubilee Worship Center of Sparta (formerly Victory Church), and Living Faith Family Church of Greenville. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ellen, on June 25, 2016; their son, Stanley Clinton Braden, on April 12, 2012; siblings, Archie Braden, Helen Levandowski, Lou Morrow, Vivian Braden, Bea Lillie, Evelyn Baumgardner, Francis Belle Green, Bradley Braden, and Franklin Braden; Ellen’s brothers and sisters, Edgar Schermerhorn, Elwood Gould and his wife, Karen Gould, Ernie Gould and his wife, Patricia Gould, Florence Christle and her husband, Duane Christle; his step-mother in law, Mabel Gould; a step-brother in law, Lee Shively; and a step-sister in law, Linda Jenks.
Surviving is his daughter, Emily & Leo McKenna of Belding; three beloved grandchildren, Molly & Scott Boyle of Amstersdam, The Netherlands, Kate Ellen McKenna of Chicago, and Caleb McKenna and his fiancé, Carrie Haynes of Gowen; a great-granddaughter, Ellie Sue Haynes; one brother, James Braden; a sister in law, Donna Schermerhorn; a sister in law, Dorothy Braden; a step-brother in law, Dave & Jan Shively; a step-sister in law, Diane Jurden; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends. Visitation is from 1-3 p.m. on Friday, June 8th at Christiansen Cremation & Funeral Care, 511 S. Franklin Street, Greenville, where funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Rev. Jeremy Rosenberger, pastor of Jubilee Worship Center of Sparta will officiate and burial will take place privately at Riverside Cemetery in Langston.
Envelopes for memorial contributions to either the Jubilee Worship Center of Sparta or Living Faith Family Church of Greenville will be available at the funeral home. To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Claude’s online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.
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