John Wesley "Jack" Braden Jr., son of John W. Braden Sr., and Jessie Mae Moore Braden, born Dec. 28, 1929, died peacefully Sept. 9, 2015, at Hospice House, following a long illness.

He graduated from Hutchinson High School, Class of 1947, and from the University of Colorado with a BS degree in Distributed Studies: math, chemistry, economics and physics. He was forever a student, incredibly well read as reflected by his many and varied interests from farming to studying the classics and music. Jack served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War as a Hospital Corpsman First Class. He operated Braden Oil Company as an independent oil producer for many years in Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas. Among his volunteer work, he most enjoyed his six years as an EMT with the Cochiti Lake, NM, Fire Department on the Cochiti Indian Reservation, beginning when he was 70 years young.

In 1952, Jack married Lilian Orelup in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She survives with their four devoted children: Elisabeth Braden (Robert Franklin), Buenos Aires, Argentina, Laura Franklin, The Sea Ranch, CA, Kathryn Palmer, Kingwood, TX, John C. Braden (Maggie Kelly) Anchorage, AK; four grandchildren, Laura Palmer, Michael Palmer, Kathryn Braden-Cahill (Thomas Cahill), and Jacqueline Braden; great-grandchildren, James Hoyt Cahill and Lilian Adele Cahill; a sister, Kay Perry of Hutchinson; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was a member of Grace Episcopal Church. His cremains will be inurned in the church columbarium.

A celebration of life will be held by the family at a later date. Friends may sign the book from Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, through Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice House, Salvation Army, or the Special Olympics, all in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 North Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.