William J. Brannan Obituary
William Joseph Brannan, age 82, of Oconomowoc, WI passed away on October 22nd after a battle with cancer. Bill grew up in Milwaukee in the Washington Park neighborhood as part of an Irish Catholic family and spent his summers at his grandparents' farm (Mullarkey Farm) in Lansing, Iowa along with some of his 8 siblings. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic grade school and graduated high school from St. John Cathedral class of 1958. After graduation, he entered the Army and served at Fort Leonard Wood, then overseas in Korea, where he earned his Bronze Star. He completed his service at Fort Meade. During his 3 years of service, he developed a love for reading and would devour books in his free time. When he returned home, he became an apprentice and was a proud member of the Sheet Metal Workers' Union for over 35 years up until retirement.
Bill was a fun-loving Irishman that enjoyed his bachelor years hunting, fishing and even earned his pilot's license and bought a couple airplanes. Then at age 30, he met the love of his life, Patricia Mlynarski, a Polish girl from West Allis, and they were married on November 7, 1970. They raised three daughters and lived in Oconomowoc most of their 52 years of marriage.
While Bill could give you a list of all the buildings he worked on throughout the Milwaukee area and beyond, he spent most of his free time using his skills to help others. If you knew Bill long enough, chances are he helped you put on a new roof, gutters, install a new furnace, or helped you build your garage. He even built the house his family would live in for 40 plus years. The Mullarkey Clan was fortunate to benefit from his handiwork updating the family farm in Iowa which, as a result, would continue to serve as a gathering site for annual family reunions for 40 plus years. Because of these annual July 4th reunions, cousins grew up knowing extended cousins and the bonds of family remained strong. Bill had the "gift of gab" and his memory was unfailing. He was able to recall family history knowledge and details that went back 150 years which helped to create pride in the family's Irish heritage.
Bill was an active volunteer throughout the community and in his parish, St. Joan of Arc. He volunteered on the ski patrol at Olympia, was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Holy Name Society. He taught religious education to middle schoolers for over 15 years and he ran the parish raffle. He used his construction skills building homes for Habitat for Humanity for many years. He also helped build out the Lake Area Free Clinic.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Rita (Mullarkey) Brannan, and James Brannan. brothers Jim, Bob, Jack, and Larry and his sisters Joanne Falbo and, Janice Kivi. He is survived by his wife, Pat (Mlynarski) Brannan, daughters Peggy (Steve) Brenner, Linda (Jeremy) Flint, Katy (Joe) Kwiatkowski, grandchildren Carley, Logan, Ben, Tyler, Owen, Alaina and Molly. He is also survived by his sisters Mary Beth (George) Groppi and Barb Kurth and many other family members and in-laws.
Services will be held on November 2nd St. Joan of Arc Parish, 120 Nashotah Road, Nashotah, WI 53058. Visitation from 9:00-11:00 followed by funeral Mass at 11:00. Burial to follow at St. Joan of Arc Cemetery on Cty Rd K, Oconomowoc.
Donations can be made in his memory to St. Joan of Arc Parish http://www.scsjcluster.org or the Lake Area Free Clinic http://www.lakeareafreeclinic.org.
