Steven Martin Braudt, age 64, of Wilton, died on Sunday, May 26, 2024.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at United Methodist Church of Wilton. Family will receive visitors from 9-10:45 a.m. with service beginning at 11 a.m. A luncheon will follow. All are encouraged to view his art, his photos and reminisce. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to United Methodist Church of Wilton or L’Arche Clinton. Online condolences may be left at www.bentleyfuneralhome.com.
Steve was born in Centerville, Iowa on Jan. 15, 1960 to Jimmie and Patricia (Dannatt) Braudt. He was born into a scouting family and from birth knew a love for boy scouts, and the outdoors. After moving to Newton, Iowa the family settled in Clinton, Iowa in 1967 where Steve would meet lifelong friends and be involved at First United Methodist Church, Clinton. He graduated from Clinton High School in 1978 as a full band nerd. He went on to meet the mother of his daughter, Laura Kraft and together they brought his only child, Sarah home in 1981. While being a single Dad he enjoyed playing in a band, working at Collis, Inc with his father, riding his motorcycle and playing the “Big Bells” in the church hand bell choir.
He met the love of his life, Reverend Anne Lippincott at bell practice one night and after months of staying late talking he asked her to marry him with a hand carved wooden spoon. They were married June 15, 1991 at First United Methodist Church, Clinton and moved to Winfield, Iowa shortly after for Anne to begin her appointment at Winfield and Spring Run United Methodist Churches.
During this time, Steve attended Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa earning a degree in Fine Art and Religious studies. Later, Steve, Anne and Sarah moved to Eldora, Iowa where Steve led youth group and taught high school Sunday School class. He worked as a jailor at the Hardin County Jail and sat on the Eldora City Council. While living in Eldora Steve began his ministry journey and served Gifford United Methodist Church as a licensed local pastor. After an exciting pulpit exchange in Ipswich, England Steve served as youth pastor of Cedar Falls United Methodist Church leading many youth trips all over the world and touching the lives of countless youth who hold him in their heart today.
After moving to Davenport, Iowa Steve then began attending Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois often times making the long trip between Davenport and Chicago on weekends. Steve graduated with his Master of Divinity in 2014 and began serving as associate pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bettendorf, Iowa. In 2017 he began his appointment at United Methodist Church of Wilton where he quickly became a fixture of bright colors, art and community leadership. In 2019 Steve was ordained a full elder in the Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church achieving his ultimate goal with both his parents being able to attend his ordination.
Steve had many talents including woodworking, pottery, and drawing. At Garrett he specialized in art as a spiritual discipline during worship. He loved motorcycles, Walt Disney World, traveling the world, especially Palestine and England. Steve considered himself an Anglophile and would talk about his travels to anyone who asked. He had numerous hobbies including, RC model airplanes and was involved in the AeroHawks organization. His life was ministry and serving God through his creative and technical abilities. He loved his family and his whole weight loss journey was so he could be a great Papi to his grandchildren Trent and Calla.
Those who are left to cherish his memory are: his wife, Reverend Anne Lippincott; his daughter, Sarah Christina Braudt (Billy Ekstrom), his grandchildren, Trent and Calla Thompson; his brothers, Rev. Robert (Jocelyn) Braudt, Scott Braudt; his sister, Dawn (Paul) Bleeker; his sister in laws, Kathy Davidge and Nancy Lippincott; and many nieces and nephews including a large extended family. The numerous youth he led along their journey with Jesus Christ will forever cherish him in their hearts. He is preceded in death by his parents, Jimmie and Patricia Braudt and beloved extended family members.