Dana Brauner

It is with profound sadness, that we announce the passing of Dana L. Brauner, on May 29, 2026, after a courageous two-year battle with an illness. Born on August 27, 1969, in the rural community of Newman Grove, Nebraska Dana grew up on the family farm just a few miles south of Lindsay, Nebraska and graduated from Newman Grove High school in 1987.

Dana was the son of Merlyn and Vera (Christensen) Brauner, who preceded him in death, alongside his infant brother, Keith, and infant son, Jordan. He is survived by his children: Austin Brauner of Platte Center, Nebraska, Rebecca Brauner of Geneva, Nebraska and Kellie Brauner of Lincoln, Nebraska. He was always very proud of his children and never ran out of stories to tell about his kids.

Dana is also survived by his sister, Karen Zaruba, with her husband Gib of Monroe, Nebraska and his brother, Lyle Brauner, with his wife Judith of St. Edward, Nebraska.

Dana's journey through life was shared with Pam Darling, to whom he was married on March 9, 1991. Though they parted ways after 27 years of marriage, they remained steadfast friends, united in their support for their family and shared memories.

While Dana was not blessed with grandchildren yet, he enjoyed babysitting his 'grandpuppies', Rip and Willow, alongside his own cherished fluffy best friend, Charlie.

Dana's professional life was marked by dedication and hard work. He enjoyed his role as Transportation Manager at 2XZ Ranch for the last decade, where he was known for his great work ethic and knowledge, not only for just driving trucks and operating heavy equipment, but for dispatching loads and fixing farm equipment as well. He considered 2XZ great employers, as well as great lifelong friends too.

Dana's life was enriched by his love of music, a passion that began during his days as a DJ for the 'Music Machine'. After that, weekends were often filled with numerous laughing rounds of "Name that Tune" and trivia with his children.

Dana took a chance on a cheap car bought off a police auction, at which turned out to be the beginning of Austin's racing career. Dana never hesitated and looked forward every summer to see how many 'Championships' Austin would bring home. He also became a great supporter and mentor to Austin's friends and their racing teams.

Dana shared Rebecca's love of animals, jumping in to help her open up a 'mini' farm for an FFA project. Not just a small farm, but one that raised miniature sized animals, such as mini pigs, mini cows, and goats. Dana was very excited to help build pens, go to auctions, or help her create the perfect feed for each animal.

He had a remarkable ability to uplift those around him with his infectious humor, and his willingness to lend a helping hand or share a laugh was a gift to all who knew him.

A celebration of Dana's life will be held on June 5, 2026, at 10:30 AM at the Gass Haney Funeral Home, located at 2109 14th Street in Columbus, Nebraska. Friends and family are invited to join us in honoring Dana's memory. Visitation will be held on Thursday evening from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM and on Friday morning at 9:30 AM until the service starts. Interment will be in Saint Ansgar Cemetery at Rosenborg.

Dana L. Brauner's legacy is one of love, laughter, and resilience. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him, but his spirit will continue to inspire us to embrace life as did every day.