George L. Brautigan

Age 80, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 7, 2002 at the Appleton Medical Center. George was born in Appleton on February 15, 1921, son of the late Dutch and Mary (Williams) Brautigan. As a young man growing up in Appleton, George played baseball until the age of twenty. On January 31, 1942, he married the former Mary Vondracek at Holy Cross Church in Kaukauna. Mary’s uncle, Rev. Joseph Vondracek performed the ceremony. In 1943, George enlisted in the United States Army, and spent the next three years all over Europe, serving as a radio operator under General Eisenhower for part of that time. George was proud to have served in Europe from D-Day minus three through the entire campaign. He was discharged in 1946. His military service rewarded him with five Battle Stars and numerous other decorations. For over forty years, he was employed at the Kimberly Clark Mill in Kimberly, and for many of those years also operated George’s TV Sales and Service in Kaukauna. He was an avid reader, and enjoyed all sports, especially fishing and baseball. He will be remembered by many for his sharp wit and fine sense of humor.

George is survived by his wife: Mary Brautigan of Kaukauna; three daughters: Joni (Bob) Thompson of DePere; Diane (Wayne) Hingle of New Orleans; Debbie (Mike) McMorrow of Kaukauna; two sons: Mike (Wendy) Brautigan of Kaukauna and Pat (Mary Kay) Brautigan of Minneapolis; eight grandchildren: Scott (Michelle) Thompson, Shawn Thompson, Levi Brautigan, Adam Brautigan, Jonathan (Robin) Hingle, Ashley Hingle, Chris McMorrow, and Sara McMorrow, two great-grandchildren: Matthew and Mary Lynn Thompson; a sister-in-law: Babe Vondracek of Kaukauna. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter-in-law Jane Biese Brautigan, Mary’s parents Frank and Mary Vondracek, brothers-in-law: “Razz” (Rosie) Vondracek, “Unc” (Lorraine) Vondracek, Bob (Helen) Vondracek, and a sister-in-law: Helen (George) Vande Voort.

Funeral services for George will be held at 8:00 PM on Thursday, January 10, 2002 at the funeral home chapel with Fr. Jack Mullarkey of Holy Cross Church officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 6:00 PM until the hour of the service.

George loved his family more than they will ever know.

FARGO FUNERAL HOME
400 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Kaukauna, Wisconsin 54130
920-766-6200