August 4, 1953 – January 29, 2018

It is with great sadness we announce that our friend and co-founder, David Henry Braun (Dave) died suddenly and unexpectedly at home on January 29, 2018.

Dave originated from Joliet, IL, and moved to Whatcom County many years ago. He was a teacher at Lummi Nation School where he taught Science and Traditional Arts for more than 20 years. In addition to teaching, he was passionate about history. He loved spending time outdoors or working on various projects in his garage. He was also an accomplished artist with paintings ranging from small canvases to entire walls.

Dave was a regular visitor at the Two Medicine Dinosaur Center in Bynum, Montana, where he spent many summers fossil hunting with his friend Dave Trexler, and painting murals for their displays.

Dave is survived by his beloved wife of 24 years, Jacqueline (Jackie) A. Braun, cherished cousin Nancy (Frank) Principe, and a whole host of friends and relatives.

The loss of Dave leaves not only a huge hole in the G. A. Ruxton Memorial Museum and Traditional Shooting Palavar, but in our hearts as well. We miss him more than words can express.

With Dave’s loss, the future of the G. A. Ruxton Memorial Museum and Traditional Shooting Palavar is uncertain. We ask everyone to bear with us as we regroup and figure out where we go from here.

This was posted on the Lummi Nation School Facebook page and decided to share their memories here as well.

Dear Lummi Nation School Community,

It is with a great deal of sadness that I inform you that David Braun, a long-time Lummi Nation School science teacher, passed away yesterday, Monday, January 29, at his home. Mr. Braun was at school during the morning, and reported that he was feeling ill, so he went home for the day. He passed away shortly after arriving home.

Mr. Braun was a beloved and respected advocate for the students of the Lummi Nation School, and will be long remembered for his tremendous contributions to the school and impact in the lives of so many students over the last two decades. His artwork that he painted on the walls of the science wing will remain as a testimony to his passion for science education, the outdoors, and archaeology. Mr. Braun will be remembered by many students for his hands-on learning projects, including model rocket-building, glider launching from the balcony of the commons, film developing in a darkroom lab, and his gold-panning and archaeological digs that resulted in a number of ancient fossils being found and cataloged.