Jason Braun

A UNIQUE SOUL WAS TAKEN FROM US FAR TOO SOON

Jason Braun passed away unexpectedly at home in Chicago on November 1, 2026, leaving behind an extended family and community of friends who will miss him dearly. He is survived by his parents, Jeanne and Walter Braun, his brother Andrew Braun and his beloved dogs, Jerry and Stella.

He was a man of integrity – a gentle, thoughtful and kind son, brother and friend, who maintained his many lifelong relationships, starting from his schooldays up to the present. He loved meeting new people and often struck up conversations with strangers – a guy who could talk to anyone. He was particularly fond of dogs of all kinds – strangers’ dogs were his immediate friends.

Jason grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio and later moved to Shorewood, WI (a suburb of Milwaukee) with his family. There he attended high school and developed his lifelong loyalty to the Milwaukee Brewers. After earning his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin in 1992, which included a semester abroad in London, Jason decided to travel and seek adventure. He moved to Switzerland, where his aunt Ellen resided, and with her help found a fun and lucrative job at an upscale ski resort in Gstaad, working winters and travelling in the off season. Jason spent several years living and working overseas, visiting countries throughout Europe, including Poland, Croatia and far flung places such as Russia and Nepal. Learning new languages was fascinating to him, and he was self taught and fluent in five foreign languages.

After 3+ years of amazing experiences abroad, Jason went on the pursue a master’s in international business at Bocconi University, Milan Italy. He then moved back to Chicago, where he worked for the past 22 years in the actuarial field, while continuing his travels to many South and Central American destinations, honing his fluency in Spanish.

Music was one of his greatest passions. Jason started playing trumpet at a young age and then developed a love for the guitar and mandolin. As an adult, he began composing songs, playing with various bands and publishing original CD’s of his music, which can be found on YouTube. The Grateful Dead inspired him, and he attended numerous music festivals in the US and internationally. He often took his beagle Jerry to clubs where he would play the guitar and harmonica simultaneously, and Jerry would accompany by howling along. The audiences loved it!

Jason was a lifelong seeker of adventure and new experiences. His one-of-a-kind, special spirit will be missed by all those who knew him.

Now I just sit around and I play my guitars
Howlin at the moon and dreaming of the stars
I’m just a little boy who wants to show you the way
Don’t you let it pass by, don’t you miss another day

(Lyrics attributed to Jason Braun)