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Darrel "Gene" Brax Obituary

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Darrel "Gene" Brax

Salina, KS

January 4, 1933 - August 21, 2020

Darrel "Gene" Brax Obituary

Darrel “Gene” Brax, 87, of Assaria, passed away August 21, 2020. Gene was born January 4, 1933 to his parents Peter Einar Brax and Clara Victoria Lindholm Brax, on his parent’s farm 2 miles northwest of Smolan, Kansas on the farm that was homesteaded by his great-grandfather, John Wahlstrom. Gene’s father, Peter, came from Ostergottland, Sweden at the age of 21. Gene attended school at Washington #43, Smolan, Kansas until 1942. At that time, the U.S. Government took over the family farm for the Army’s Camp Phillips which caused the Brax family to move to a farm south of Abilene, Kansas. He graduated from Abilene High School in 1950 and worked for KP&L before joining the Navy. In the Navy, he was a Structural mechanic 3rd Class until his discharge at which time he worked for Salina’s KP&L. On June 6, 1956, Gene joined the US Postal Service as a Salina letter carrier and then a rural mail carrier in the Salina, New Cambria, and Gypsum area for 42 years. Gene enjoyed the outdoor life, farming and believed in helping people. He was most proud of his record of donating 90+ pints of blood to the American Red Cross. He was active in the following: Saline County Rural Fire Department #2 in Assaria, Lions Clubs, American Legion, RSVP, Saline County Rural Water District #3 Board of Directors, and the 4-H clubs in the Mentor area. He was baptized and a confirmed member of the Salemsborg Lutheran Church where he also served on the Church’s Council. Gene was preceded in death by his two sisters, Mary Ann Rodie and Evelyn Brax and brother-in-law, Charles O. Smith. Gene is survived by his wife of 35 years, Jan Jeffers Varner Brax; their children, Jon Brax (Judy), Lori Brax, Peggy Varner Beckley (Roger) and Jay Varner (LeeAnn); ten grandchildren, Hayden Brax, Garrett Brax, Ryan Johnson, Carin Rogers (Chase), Adam Johnson, Nicole Beckley Demars (Jason) Megan Beckley, Madison Varner, Lindsay Curl, Jami Noone (Brad); six great-grandchildren, Colt Demars, Chloe Demars, Terra Beckley, Sam Noone, Sadie Noone, and Lincoln Rogers; and his sister, Verna Smith of Lindsborg, Kansas. At Gene’s request, cremation and no services were chosen. He will be interred at the Salemsborg Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Salemsborg Lutheran Church, sent in care of Carlson-Geisendorf Funeral Home, 500 S. Ohio St., Salina, Kansas 67401, for the care and maintenance of the altar painting that was saved from the church fire.

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Events

Event information can be found on the Official Obituary of Darrel "Gene" Brax.