Heidi Ursula Waltraud Braun, age 72

Heidi Ursula Waltraud Braun died May 3, 2023 in Baptist Hospital, North Little Rock Arkansas after a brief illness. A memorial service will be held on July 8, 2023 at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, 292 Munn Rd, East Fort Mill, SC 29715, at 10:00 am. 

Heidi was the first child and only daughter of the late Heinz Hermann Braun and Hanni Zimmermann Braun. She was born in Durlach, Germany on June 8, 1950, welcomed by a large family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She immigrated to Teaneck, New Jersey, with her parents in February of 1953. She lived in many states during her lifetime. In her childhood, her family moved with her father’s IBM career to Pennsylvania and New York. Heidi enjoyed skiing and camping with her family and was an avid animal lover from an early age. After high school she married and moved to Connecticut, working at Cheeseborough-Ponds and Safeway. A few years later, she and her husband followed their dream of owning a horse farm and moved to Montana, where Heidi lived until 2008. Here she continued her work with raising horses, training dogs, and working as a vet assistant. She was a member of the Inland Empire Collie club and showed her beloved Zorro in many dog shows. From Montana, she moved to Spokane, Washington. Over her lifetime, she rescued many dogs and provided good homes for her four-legged “children.” 

Heidi gave her love freely to several foster children, and always considered them “her kids.” She was generous with her time and talents and enjoyed deep friendships. In 2015, she moved to North Carolina to be closer to her family and her aging mother. She enjoyed time with her brothers and their wives and children in Charlotte while living with her brother Hanns and his wife Mary. A year ago, she moved to Little Rock to spend time with her third brother, Heinz, and his wife, Patti, and their children and grandchildren. Having lived far away from family for most of her adult life, Heidi cherished the time she had with her mother before her death, and her three brothers. 

In Charlotte, Heidi attended mass regularly at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Fort Mill, SC. In Little Rock, she attended Trinity Fellowship Church and was in a Bible Study there. She also enjoyed activities at the Senior Center.

Heidi will be missed by many friends and family members, including brother Hanns Braun (Mary), nieces April Reddington and Samantha Lyons (Brett); brother Heinz Braun (Patti), nieces Patricia Rosas (Willie) and Lindsay Hampton, and nephew Stephen Braun; brother Harry Braun (Amy), nephews Andrew Braun (Kate), Alan Braun, and Harrison Braun. Heidi loved her great-nieces and nephews, and enjoyed any time she was able to spend with them and sending them gifts. She will be fondly remembered by her step son Will Przybylowicz (Joanne) and their son Logan as well as three foster children, Jennifer Kay Learned, Kurtis Learned, and Kerry Bates. 

Heidi was preceded in death by her niece Aprille Nersessian Choate.

Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400. Online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com