Charles Roland Brawn

Notes:

Charles Roland Brawn died peacefully on February 25, 2017 at the age of 93 years having suffered from pancreatic cancer for the prior several months. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Doreen Lois (Hall); sons Gary (Angela) and Dale (Gloria); grandson Christopher (Danielle); great-grandchildren Noah and Shiloh; half-brothers Ronald (Terry), Jack (Gail); half-sisters Janice Kline-Ritchie (Robert) and Deborah Brawn (Travis) and step-sister Olive Telke (Erwin). Charles was predeceased by his brother Norman and his sister Irene Moore.
Charles was born on the family farm south of Abbey, Saskatchewan on November 1, 1923. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces immediately following his 18th birthday, but developed pleurisy and thereafter had to support the war effort through employment in the aircraft construction industry. Toward the end of the war, he took a job with the Port Arthur, Ontario police force, temporarily replacing a member who was serving in the army. It was in Port Arthur that Charles met Doreen who was at the time working as a hairdresser. After their marriage on March 30, 1945, the young couple moved west to be closer to their families. Charles worked for a year as a grain elevator operator in his hometown of Abbey while at the same time assisting his father on the family farm, but when that elevator was closed Charles and Doreen explored other options and ultimately were persuaded by her family to move to the Brandon area.
As Charles had minimal education and job training, he had to scramble to find jobs to support Doreen and their children. More often then not, Charles had two jobs at a time and over those initial years in Brandon they included auto dealer parts-man, cab driver, photographer's assistant, appliance repairman and movie projectionist (at various times at all four of the Brandon theatres). Anticipating the arrival of television to Brandon, and having some minimal knowledge of electronics through his work as a projectionist, Charles began taking correspondence courses in the repair of radios, television and other electronics. In 1952, Charles and Doreen established an electronics repair shop in the basement of their home at 904 - 6th Street but shortly business grew sufficiently to warrant hiring technicians to help and building a retail sales and repair shop on 10th Street. Always driven to expand his business, Charles established a cabinet making business which handled the woodworking for construction of stereo systems, and a public address sound business for use by major attractions coming to public facilities such as the Wheat City Arena. By the mid 1960's, Charles was persuaded to change careers and became a real estate broker and a real property appraiser, and established his last business, Brawn & Brawn Real Estate Service.
One benefit of Charles' varied work history and his aptitudes was that he was a "handy" man, who took pleasure in solving problems. Whether his challenge was a leaky pipe or a difficult and divisive board of directors, he looked for a practical solution and applied his best efforts to effecting a resolution.
Charles was a great believer in "self-improvement" - in business, personally and spiritually. Although his formal education was limited to grade eight, he read widely and was a willing "listener" when he knew he needed to broaden his knowledge. Early in business he appreciated that effective communication was critical and with this motivation became an active member of Toastmasters. Thereafter he relished opportunities to address groups, and easily projected humour and competence.
From seeing the odd bi-plane fly over his boyhood farm in western Saskatchewan to working on construction of the two-seater Cornell trainer during the Second World War, Charles was always fascinated by flying. Finally, after his business had flourished sufficiently to allow him to follow this passion, he took flying lessons at the Brandon Flying Club, purchased an interest in a Navion airplane and thoroughly enjoyed what he viewed as a selfish but very satisfying indulgence. It did not take long before he became involved as a member of the Flying Club board and eventually was elected as the board chairman.
Although Charles was always driven to work long hours in his various business endeavours, he made it a priority to find time for community service and to indulge his special interests. Among his various commitments were service to his Church boards (Bethel Temple, First Baptist) and the Masons. In the early 1960's Charles was elected to the Board of the Brandon School Division and eventually became chairperson. He was very active in the real estate profession, initially on the Brandon board and ultimately as the first non-Winnipeg President of the provincial association.
When Charles decided it was time to retire from his real estate business, his family was concerned about how he would keep himself busy as sports, hobbies, recreation and relaxation were never priorities for him. Partially in response to that apprehension, his son, Dale, developed the proposal that he and Charles would jointly research and write stories of interesting historical happenings in south-western Manitoba. These stories were published initially in the Brandon Sun and other community newspapers, and eventually consolidated in book form. As well, Charles wrote a family history concerning his maternal grandfather who had homesteaded what became the Brawn family farm. He loved these projects.
Although Doreen was significantly more gifted and interested in athletics, Charles was persuaded over the years to try curling, tennis, badminton and golf. In time Doreen was persuaded (or pressured) to let him drop all but golf which they were able to enjoy as a couple and which became a valued means to engage in social time with friends.
Charles and Doreen were very fortunate in connecting with many wonderful and loyal friends, who enriched their lives through lovingly and generously sharing activities and experiences such as travel, camping, dancing, games and sports. In turn Doreen and Charles placed great emphasis on being loyal and supportive to their friends.
Doreen and Charles enjoyed travel, especially with friends or family, and relished memories of trips to Europe, Savannah (Georgia), Prince Edward Island, the Dominican Republic and the southern U.S.. After Charles' retirement, they spent winters in Mesa, Arizona where they accumulated a new circle of friends and where, in their park model community, they could explore new interests, which for Charles included being the lead actor in a live theatre production.
For approximately the last 15 years Doreen and Charles resided in Village Green, where they were both heavily involved in its many activities, and where they met many wonderful new friends.
The Funeral Service took place at Memories Chapel on Monday, May 1, 2017. Rev. Orton Anderson officiated.

Charles married Doreen Lois Hall on 30 Mar 1945. Doreen (daughter of George Henry Hall and Ivy Agnes Smith) was born on 12 Oct 1926 in Belmont, Manitoba, Canada; died on 18 Feb 2019 in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]