Jerzy Brania

MADISON - Jerzy W?...‚adys?...‚aw Brania, age 75, passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family on January 1, 2016, following a short battle with cancer. Jerzy was born on November 24, 1940, in Tarnobrzeg, Poland, to parents Jan and Henryka (S?...‚awek) Brania. He grew up in neighboring Sandomierz, Poland, and in 1960 immigrated to Madison, WI with his parents, arriving penniless and with no knowledge of English. Through hard work and study over many years, he saved enough money and learned English well enough to enroll at the UW. It was at the Union Rathskellar where he met the love of his life, Carin Sue Cooper, whom he married on December 27, 1969. Jerzy graduated in 1975 with a degree in Landscape Architecture, and began a nearly 30-year career as an engineer with the Madison Water Utility. He and Carin had three children, Michael, Robert, and Julie, who he loved dearly, and to whom he taught the values of hard work, integrity, compassion, appreciation of beauty, and the art of having a good time. He took special joy in passing along the latter as the adoring grandfather to Claire, Carter, Cassidy, and Chloe. Jerzy was a very cool and exciting guy, the life of the party, but one who also enjoyed quieter pursuits. He loved cars, travel, music, gardening, cards, and collecting/restoring antiques, especially those related to gambling. He was active in the area Polish community, serving as a medical interpreter to Polish speakers in need of health care, and throughout his life opening his home to many individuals and groups from his home country. He was also a founding member of the Polish Heritage Club of Madison. Jerzy is survived by his children, grandchildren, daughter in-law Denise (Cornell), son in-law Wojciech Galon, and many cousins, in-laws, and friends, in both the U.S. and Poland. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, father-in-law Lee Cooper, mother-in-law Esther (Johns) Cooper, and uncle Boles?...‚aw S?...‚awek. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1:00 PM on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at Saint Maria Goretti Catholic Church, 5313 Flad Ave. in Madison. Internment service will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery. Please join the family at the church for visitation from 11am to 1pm on Tuesday, January 5, 2016. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that Memorial donations be made to alz.org. The family would like to give special thanks to the amazing staff at UW Memory Clinic, Meriter Hospital, and Agrace HospiceCare. Jerzy was a remarkable individual, and though he will be missed dearly, his spirit and zest for life will live on in the hearts of all he touched.

http://alz.org/

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
608-238-3434