Josephine Braun

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Sister Josephine Braun, CSA, baptized Patricia Jean, died peacefully August 20, 2023, at Nazareth Court, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Patricia was born February 16, 1940, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the second of seven daughters of Albert Robert Braun and Marie Walburga Curry Braun. Her father, a lifetime employee of the Kohler Company, moved his family from Sheboygan to Kohler, Wisconsin, when Patricia was three years old. She grew up in Kohler with her six sisters, graduating from Kohler Public High School in 1958.  From the time she was a child, Patricia wanted to be a nurse.  After high school graduation, she enrolled in St. Agnes School of Nursing in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It was there that she met the Sisters of St. Agnes who stirred in her a call to religious life. After one year of nursing school, Patricia entered St. Agnes Convent in September of 1959. She made her first profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes as Sister Josephine on August 15, 1962, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

After her religious profession, Sister Josephine returned to St. Agnes School of Nursing and completed her studies to become a registered nurse in 1964.  She then began working at St. Agnes Hospital, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on the medical-surgical unit while attending Marian College, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to earn her BS in nursing.  She proudly earned this degree in 1965. From that time on she spent her life in healthcare, serving as a staff nurse at St. Agnes Hospital (1964-1965) and St. Anthony Hospital in Hays, Kansas (1965-1969).

In 1969, Sister Josephine returned to Fond du Lac to become a nursing instructor for the School of Nursing at Marian College. She enhanced her skills for nursing instruction by earning her MSN in rehabilitation nursing in 1971 from Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.  Sister served in the Marian College nursing program as a classroom teacher and clinical instructor with a focus on medical-surgical nursing for twenty years, 1969-1989. She enjoyed interacting with her students as they became more confident in themselves and their nursing skills. She continually encouraged her students to focus on the wholistic health of their patients—body, mind and spirit.

In 1989, Sister Josephine’s ministry in healthcare took another turn when she left Marian College and participated in a year-long sabbatical program deepening her own personal spirituality and awakening in her a desire to help others integrate spirituality and healing. She chose to blend her love for medical and spiritual care by becoming a certified massage therapist in 1991 through the Reilly School of Massage Therapy, Virginia Beach, Virginia.  Sister Josephine then opened her massage business, Healing Touch, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. She continued her massage ministry for thirty years offering her clients a sense of peace and wholeness through her gentle, prayerful presence, and skillful healing touch. Many testified that their time with her was a holy hour of anointing.

Sister Josephine retired from active ministry in 2021 when she was no longer able to serve her clients due to the COVID-19 pandemic and her physical health was declining.  In May of 2022, Sister joined the community of CSA sisters at Nazareth Court and Center. There, courageously facing her terminal illness, she received loving care until the time of her death with the same graciousness and peaceful spirit that she had offered to so many others.  

Sister Josephine was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters Noreen Francis Braun and Kathleen Ann Schieble.

She is survived by her sisters Sharon (Clyde) Kometer, Shiela Therese Braun, Maureen Claire Sanner, Sister Colleen Braun, CSA; her nieces, nephews and their families, and the Sisters of St. Agnes with whom she lived, prayed, and ministered.

Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 28, 2023, from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

A Prayer Service will be offered at 11:00 a.m. in Nazareth Center Chapel. Visitation will continue following the Prayer Service until 1:30 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for Sister Josephine at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, August 28, 2023, at St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, with Father Tom Zelinski presiding. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Springs Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Memorials may be directed to the CSA Mission Advancement Office, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin 54937. The Sisters of St. Agnes and Sister Josephine’s family are grateful to the nurses and staff of St. Francis Home, Nazareth Court and Center, and Hospice Hope for their care of Sister Josephine.

Zacherl Funeral Home is serving the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes.