Rotary Club of Edina mourns member Don Brauer
The Rotary Club of Edina is mourning the loss of long-time Rotarian Don Brauer. He passed away Feb. 28 after a long battle with Parkinson's. Don was a 50-year member of the Rotary Club of Edina, as well as being instrumental in the formation of the Eden Prairie Rotary Club.
We are sad to announce that Rotarian Don Brauer passed away Feb. 28, 2014. Don joined the Rotary Club of Edina in 1964 and
was President in 1967. He was a Paul Harris Fellow, Charter Chairman of Edina Rotary Foundation and still an active member, making him a 50-year member of Edina Rotary.
According to his friend and Edina Rotary sponsor Frank Cardarelle, Don, a civil engineer, was assistant park director for the City of Edina in the 1950s, prior to going into private practice. He was instrumental in the planning of the Braemar Golf Course, and also did the first comprehensive plan for the city of Eden Prairie. Frank also mentioned he was prominent at the University of Minnesota. His firm did work all over the country. Frank said Don owned a private plane and would fly it frequently. His firm is still in business in Hopkins as The Brauer Group. Frank and Don worked together on projects for more than 50 years, and at one time, their offices were in the same building. Don and Frank helped to get the Eden Prairie Rotary Club up and running.
Services were March 4 at Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina. Don is survived by his wife, Gudrun, of 58 years; three children, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. The family has asked that memorials be sent to the Edina Rotary Foundation or donor’s favorite charity.