Yvonne L. Braun, 86, Hays, died Saturday, May 2, 2026 at HaysMed surrounded by her loving family.
She was born June 27, 1939 in Emmeram, the daughter of Ambrose and Adelia (Dreiling) Brungardt. Yvonne grew up in Emmeram and as a teenager entered the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. While living with the Sisters, she graduated from high school, then attended two years of college to become a music teacher. She returned to Kansas and worked as a certified X-ray technician at the Eddy Clinic. On February 8, 1958 she was united in marriage to Ronald J. “Ron” Rohleder in Emmeram. They celebrated 34 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on May 5, 1992.
Yvonne was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the VFW Auxiliary, and the Prairie Garden Club. Her faith was a very important part of her life. She prayed multiple rosaries per day and was the first female Eucharistic Minister at St. Joseph Church. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren, singing, playing the organ, watching EWTN, doing puzzle books and Sudoku, and being with her beloved dogs Taffy and Blondie. Yvonne was a homemaker and worked as a Tupperware sales manager. She made many lifelong friends throughout Kansas at Tupperware parties. On June 30, 2000 she was united in marriage to Kenneth R. “Ken” Braun in Victoria. They celebrated 21 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on March 6, 2022.
Survivors include nine children, Kathleen Mead and husband Steven, Lisa Lang and husband Tim, Cheryl Rohleder, Craig Rohleder and wife Beth, Niel Rohleder and wife Roberta, Eric Rohleder and wife Casey, Ann Noble and husband Warren, Kent J. Rohleder, and Scott Rohleder and wife Cari, 21 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, three step-sons, Tom Braun and wife Anita, Steve Braun and wife Susan, and Kevin Braun and wife Dana, a step-daughter-in-law Missy Braun, a sister, Ruth Polifka, a sister-in-law Tina Rohleder, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ronald J. “Ron” Rohleder and grandson David Rohleder, her second husband Kenneth R. “Ken” Braun and step-son Chris Braun, two brothers, and four sisters.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Fred Gatschet officiating. Burial will follow in St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Tuesday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Wednesday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A VFW Auxiliary Rosary will be at 5:30 pm, followed by a Vigil Service and Rosary at 6:30 pm, on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to masses, TMP-M Endowment, St. Fidelis Cemetery, or Sacred Heart Cemetery in Emmeram. Condolences and memories of Yvonne may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com