Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Del Branum, a man whose name was printed on the Forest Lake business community for more than 40 years, has died. Branum, owner of Delís Auto Repair, died Thursday, Feb. 24 after a three-month battle with cancer. He was 63.

While Branumís name is synonymous with the Forest Lake business scene, he also was a man who would lend a hand in many volunteer capacities, including service to the Forest Lake Fire Department where he was a 25-year member and a former fire chief.

Branum accomplished his many years of fire service while running a business and staying active with church and civic functions.

ìHe didnít just drop his wrench for the fire department, he did it for anything in the community,î said Gary Sigfrinius, the current fire chief here.

ìHe (Branum) was just an exceptional guy.î

Branumís imprint on the business scene started in 1961 when he teamed with Roger Bodine to run the Shell Station in Forest Lake. He was two years removed from high school.

In 1967 Branum took over ownership of the Mobil Station on the corner of S. Lake St. and W. Broadway Ave. He ran the gas and service station for the next 18 years. Delís Towing Service was also started during his tenure in the downtown.

In 1984 Branum lost the lease to the property and a year later was forced to relocate to 20 NW 5th Ave. He no longer sold gas and eventually discontinued the towing service, but focused on what he started as a career ó repairing vehicles.

Branum logged 20 years at the small shop on NW 5th Ave.

Sons, friend remember

For his two sons, Mitch and Matt, their father will be remembered as a man who not only enjoyed his work, but the time he spent with family, his church and friends.

In his free time, Branum loved to hunt, fish, golf and spend time in the garden and cook, his sons said.

ìHe liked spending time with us and his grandchildren.î Mitch said.

Before he became ill last fall, Branum went to Mattís home in Spearfish, SD, where he helped work on a new church that Matt is pastoring there. It was an example of the little things he would do to demonstrate his faith, Matt said.

Matt said his father was deeply religious but usually kept his beliefs personal.

ìHe was one of those guys who wasnít a Bible thumper,î Matt said. ìHe lived it. Christianity is supposed to be lived. Itís not a badge to wear, itís a life to be lived.î

Jim Trudeau of Forest Lake agrees that Branumís faith ran deep.

Trudeau was a lifelong friend who got to know Branum well over the years as the city's police chief and later county sheriff. Branum was Trudeauís wrench man when he bought a hot rod in 1961.

Trudeau was a frequent visitor during the time Branum was ill and would often drive his friend to medical appointments.

ìDel had a lot of faith and he was ready to go,î Trudeau said last week. ìHe was a good guy to the city of Forest Lake.î

Family history

Delmar Branum was born on Aug. 14, 1941 to Arnold and Mary Jane Branum. He graduated from Forest Lake High School in 1959 and two years later married Paula Berntson of Forest Lake.

In addition to his fire department service, Branum was a member of the local Masonic Lodge and was active in the Forest Lake Jaycees. He spent many years as a booster for the town team Forest Lake Lakers baseball club.

He was active at the Forest Lake Christian Church where he served on the church board and was one of the early church volunteers who helped organize the Christmas season Living Nativity program.

A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5 at Forest Lake Christian Church, 420 W. Broadway Ave. Interment will take place in the spring at Cedar Hills Cemetery, Forest Lake.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Paula; daughter Marsha (Larry) Zafft, Lake Elmo; sons Mitchell (Jennifer) Branum, Forest Lake, and Matthew (Becky) Branum, Spearfish, SD; grandchildren Molly and Libby Zafft, Joshua, Samantha and Noah Branum, and Reagan Branum; sisters Diane Larson and Debra Branum, both of Duluth; and one niece, Meghan Moroney.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arnold and Jane, and step-father Paul Ramsey.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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