Gerald "Jerry" Dale Branen

Gerald Dale ”Jerry” Branen, longtime Collinsville farmer and rancher, died January 19 at Saint John’s Hospital in Tulsa.  He was born March 21, 1937, near Covington to Victor Vernon and Edrie Kirk Branen.

Visitation will be Noon to 8:00 pm, Friday, January 22, 2021 at the Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home. The family will be present from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Funeral services will be 10:00 am, Saturday, January 23, 2021 at the First Baptist Church in Collinsville with Dr. Bill Haynes officiating. Interment will be at Ridgelawn Cemetery. To View services online, go to the First Baptist Collinsville Facebook page.

Shortly after his birth the family purchased 540 acres east of Talala.  They lived there until a tornado destroyed the house and barns on April 27, 1942. That day, Jerry suffered a broken leg and landed in the pig pen.  The family lived in Chelsea, Pryor, and Mena, AR before moving to Collinsville in 1948.

Jerry attended Collinsville schools from fifth grade through graduation in 1956.  In high school he was active in the FFA and raised chickens in the cellar of the family home.  He worked at the Ranch House gas station during high school.  Along with Bass Corbin, Jerry owned several gas stations, including two at German Corner and the Eastside Gas station where Sonic and Mazzios is now. They had a wrecker service and a salvage and gave S&H Green Stamps so Arlene would stop for gas.  When he filled her Cadillac up, she paid with a check.  That is how Jerry managed to get her phone number.  They were married April 9, 1960, in the Community Church.  Their 61 ^st wedding anniversary would have been in April. The couple had four children:  Vicki, born in 1964; Mike, in 1967; Steve, 1970 and Stan, 1971.

He served in the Army at Ft. Polk, LA and Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, where he was a Maintenance Engineer during 1959-61.  He was in the Army Reserves from 1961-1963 during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

In 1964 Jerry traded a John Deere D tractor for payment on a bill. This led to his farming and ranching career, which lasted until his retirement in 2008 because of a health problem. Over the years he raised crossbred cattle, wheat, oats, milo, soybeans, millet and haygrazer.  At one time he farmed and ranched over 1000 acres and had 250 head of cattle. At the time of his death, he had the oldest registered farm in Rogers County.

Jerry could fix about anything.  In high school he and his buddies, Gordon Mosier and Gerald Coulter, worked on their cars in the Branen’s back yard.  Later in life, when he and his cousin, Dick Snyder, were planning to repair something, they would discuss it for months before doing the simple ten minute job.  However they were assured that all the options were covered.

At the age of 13, Jerry accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at the Skiatook Christian Church.  He was a member of the Community Church for 68 years, where he frequently served on the church board and was head usher.

Local activities were also a large part of his life.  He was a member of the Lions Club, vice-president of the Collinsville FFA alumni, Masonic Lodges, Collinsville #165 and Oologah #343; served on the Collinsville Board of Adjustment, the Fair Board and Boy Scout Troop #95.  The family was chosen as the Tri-County Fair Farm Family of the Year in 1991.

He and Arlene were always their kids’ and grandkids’ biggest cheerleaders no matter what they were doing: Church, sports, Boy Scouts and FFA. Among the four children were three  American Farmers, one Western National Regional winner, four State Farmers and two Northeast District Star Farmers.  In 1982, Vicki was the first girl to be a Northeast District Star Farmer.  They earned four college degrees, showed numerous Grand Championship cattle and received many Showmanship Awards.

Not only that, Jerry and Arlene raised their children to “work hard and play later”. Growing up they always had to get the combining work done before going to Lead Hill, AR for the 4 ^th of July. Then they had to get the hay done and the ground worked for wheat before going back to school in August. They did not have time to get into trouble because they were too tired.

Survivors include his wife, Arlene, of the home; one daughter, Vicki and Dee West, Lenapah; and three sons:  Mike and Susan Branen, Steve and Kelly Branen and Stan and Betsy Branen, all of Collinsville.  He had nine grandchildren:  Michaela, Lyndee, Kaylyn, Jake, Julie, Laney, Justin Branen; Bodee West and Ty Branen.  Other survivors include his sister, Elaine and Gerald Coulter, of Lake Kiowa, TX; sister-in-law, Louise Pruett, Nowata; and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.  His parents preceded him in death.

Jerry never met a stranger.  He loved his dogs—sometimes his family thought he loved the dogs more than them.  He also is a part of the little-known history of the Tulsa State Fair.  Sometime prior to 1956, Jerry and his cousins, Dick and Bruce Snyder, let all of the chickens loose at the fair.

From Jerry and Arlene, the Branen children learned about work ethics.  They were instructed to “Keep your word. If you are going to do something, do it right the first time. Never let the combine get rained on”, among others.

Jerry was also very proud of his farm equipment.  His fences were straight and level and his corner posts could hold a Mack truck.

Thank you, Daddy, for always holding the show halter—not just in the show ring, but in life.

Services are under the direction of Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home.