Submitted by: Dan Rich

Walter John Braunsdorf

April 16, 1870 – Jan. 27, 1950

South Bend Tribune 1-28-1950

Walter John Braunsdorf, aged 79, of 1440 Hildreth street, founder of the W. J. Braunsdorf & Son Plumbing company, 505 West Marion street, in 1901, died at 5:20 p.m. Friday in his home.  He had been ill two and a half years.  Born in Cooperstown, N. Y. April 16, 1870, he had lived here 77 years, coming from Cooperstown. 

On June 17, 1908, he was married to Emma Gibson, who survives.  He had retired from the plumbing business before his illness. Also surviving are two sons, Robert L. Braunsdorf, of South Bend, who is now carrying the business of the company and Walter L. Braunsdorf, of Mishawaka, a pressman a the South Bend Tribune; a daughter, Mrs. F. L. Greene, of Kirklin, Ind; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; a brother, William H Braunsdorf, and a sister, Mrs. Charles Embick, both of South Bend.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. today in the Orvis chapel.  The rosary will be recited there at 8 p.m. Sunday.  Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Joseph Catholic church with Rev. Philip V. Beaghan, C.S.C., pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in Highland cemetery. Mr. Braunsdorf was a charter member of the Royal Neighbors of America and local No. 79, Plumbers’ & Steamlifters’ union, and a member of the Master Plumbers’ association since 1910.

South Bend Tribune 1-29-1950

Pallbearers for W. J. Braunsdorf, 1440 Hildreth street, for whom funeral services will be conducted at 1 a.m. Monday in St. Joseph’s Catholic church, will be Ray Gooley, Ben Koehler, A. L. Loughin, Richard Miller, Roy Michaels and Edward Smith.