John Braswell

CAPE GIRARDEAU - John W. Braswell, 84, died at 1:35 a.m. Sept. 22, 2001, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Born Oct. 9, 1916, in Desloge, son of the late John Walter and Nola Belle Wheeler Braswell, he graduated from Flat River High School and was a lieutenant commander with the Merchant Marines during World War II.

A licensed stationary engineer and self-educated engineer, he owned and operated Sani-Soft Water Service and held several patents in the water conditioning business. A member and past president of the Cape Shrine Club, he was a member of the Scottish Rite, Downtown Rotary of Cape and past president and lifetime member of the Missouri Water Conditioning Association. He also played with the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band for 32 years and was a member of the Centenary United Methodist Church.

On June 24, 1939, in St. Louis, he married Nelda Ruth Taylor who survives of the home.

Other survivors include: two sons, David Braswell of Farmington and Dan Braswell of Cape Girardeau; one daughter, Becki Miller of Cape Girardeau; one brother, Earl Braswell of Sikeston; and seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel, where Masonic rites are scheduled for 7 p.m.

Services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Clayton Smith and Karen Mustoe officiating.

Memorial contributions

may be sent to

Centenary United Methodist Church

Memorial Fund

300 N. Ellis

Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701

or the

American Red Cross

2430 Myra

Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701

or the

Humane Society of Southeast Missouri

Route W

Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701