Don Bragg
Don Charles Bragg, age 53, formerly of Monticello, Arkansas and born in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, died suddenly in a house explosion on Saturday, December 30, 2023. He was a graduate of Rhinelander High School in 1988 and received his BS and MS in Forestry from Michigan Technological University in 1992 and 1995, respectively. It was there that he met the love of his life, fellow Forestry student Hope Pruden. The couple married in 1996 and moved to Utah for Don’s doctoral work. Don earned his PhD in Forest Ecology from Utah State University in 1999. Don was employed as a Research Forester at the U.S. Forest Service’s Southern Station in Monticello, Arkansas from 2000 to present.
During their marriage, the family had three children, Kenneth (Kenny) age 22, Elizabeth (Beth) age 19, and Stephen, age 16. The family were active members of St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Monticello and the Arkansas Archeological Society. The adventures of “Bragg Family South” took them across the country numerous times, visiting state and national parks, Catholic churches, historic sites, and interesting restaurants along the way. They made friends across the country, working on their various projects. As a family (and they were together every chance they got) they were generous, helpful, brainy, loving, and fun. They were “can-do” people who didn’t avoid hard work. There was no project they wouldn’t tackle and no hardship they wouldn’t bear to make a friend or family member’s life better.
Don’s many interests included Packer games, fishing, birdseye maple, family, friends, and forestry. He was passionate about his work and prominent in his field.
Joined in death by his wife, Hope, as well as children Kenny and Beth, who also died in the house explosion, Don is survived by his son Stephen; parents Don and Rose Bragg of Rhinelander, Wisconsin; sister Lisa Bragg-Hurlburt of Eau Claire (Jon Hurlburt of Colfax), Wisconsin; brother Bob Bragg (Nancy Hopkins) of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; brother John Bragg (Jim Houzner) of Jersey City, New Jersey; sister Laurie Bragg-Valaskey (Mark Valaskey) of Cross Plains, Wisconsin, and brother Bill Bragg (Maiko Chu) of Bradenton, Florida; nephews Michael, Jonathan, and David Hurlburt; nieces Emma and Leila Hurlburt and Susan Johnston; aunts, uncles, and numerous cousins and dear friends.
Funeral arrangements have not been made yet. If desired, friends and family may make memorial contributions to the GoFundMe sites set up for the survivors: (https://gofund.me/d32eff21 and https://gofund.me/a66542b0). The family would like to thank friends and relatives across the country for their condolences and support .