James Harold Braband

James Harold Braband was born July 19, 1926 on the family farm, Rost Township, Jackson County, Minnesota. He grew up on the farm in Lakefield, MN and Estherville. After graduating in 1944 from Estherville High School, he served in the US Army in Germany during WWII. Jim was united in marriage to Loyce Lamack on February 22, 1953 at Jackson, MN. Jim worked for the Dairy Herd Improvement Association all over southwestern Minnesota until he started his own farming operation in 1953 in the Estherville area. In 1960 he and the family moved to Lakefield, MN and operated a 160 acre dairy farm. After moving to Spirit Lake in 1974, he raised cattle and hogs and farmed until his retirement in March 2003. The Super MTA Diesel was the main tractor used in Jim's farming operation. Purchased in 1956 and restored in 2005, it was his pride and joy to ride in parades and on tractor rides Jim and Loyce were excellent ballroom dancers and spent many enjoyable hours at the Worthington Coliseum with friends. He had an ear for music, loved listening to his family play piano, enjoyed traveling and spending time with family and friends. He passed away at home on the farm surrounded by his loving family. Surviving Jim are his wife, Loyce; children, Roxanne and her husband, Larry Gondert, Searsboro, IA, Valerie and her husband, Frank Franek Jr., Lake Park, Ray and his wife, Deirdre Braband, Spirit Lake; grandchildren, Jason Shaver and wife, Michelle and son Carson, Ashley and Abbey Braband, Wade and Sheila Franek. Preceding Jim in death were his parents, brother, Bernard, and sister, Lucille Horn.