Michael 'Mike' Braniff

(photo)

Michael “Mike” Braniff was born March 26, 1963, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Raymond and Kathleen (Farrell) Braniff. He passed away December 3, 2025, at Nebraska Medicine with his family at his side after battling cancer.

Mike moved with his family from South Omaha to a farm west of Tekamah when he was 10 years old. He attended Tekamah-Herman Schools, where he participated in football, basketball and track. Later he attended Iowa Western Community College and received a degree in parts management.

On December 3, 1982, Mike and Susan (Jackson) were married in Tekamah. They became the parents of three children, Andy, Sara, and Michael.

Mike started working part-time at Tekseed when he was in high school and worked there for several years. He then began a career at M&S Grading Co. in Omaha and later McArdle Grading Co. in Elkhorn, beginning as a truck driver and then moving on to operating heavy equipment.

Mike became very skilled at operating several machines and took a lot of pride in his work. He took time with the “younger kids” to show them the correct way to do things, so they were done right. Mike also worked four years as foreman for Burt County Department Roads. Mike retired from McCardle Grading in September 2025.

Mike enjoyed afternoons with family, the outdoors, hunting, fishing, ice fishing and snowmobile trips to Wyoming. He also enjoyed working out in the garage, working on his Ford pickups, and anything else that needed fixed.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Ray; parents-in-law, Neal and MariAlice Jackson; and grandparents, John and Rose Braniff and Ed and Elizabeth Farrell.

Survivors include his wife, Susan of Tekamah; children, Andy (Sarah) Braniff of Tekamah; Sara (Jeff Werner) of Pierce; and Michael (Heather) Braniff of Herman; mother, Kate Braniff of Tekamah; siblings, Kelly (Tom) Olson and Ray (Kris) Braniff of Tekamah, Colleen (Kevin) Moseman of Omaha, Beth (Mark) Rasmussen of Bennington, Tim (Bonnie) Braniff, Pat (Teresa) Braniff, Dan Braniff all of Tekamah, Teresa (Lyle) Pille of Oakland, Joe (Molly) Braniff, KC (Carrie) Braniff, Rusty (Ginger Stahr) all of Tekamah, Erin (Scott) Wilson of Papillion, and Mary (Clay) Clabaugh of Oakland; grandchildren, Beckett, Brogan, and Blakely Braniff; Justice Braniff and Gage Werner; Quinn, Colt, Buck, Hadley and Baby Braniff; several nieces and nephews; and many, many cousins and friends.

FUNERAL MASS: Friday, December 12, 2025, 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Tekamah, NE

MEMORIAL VISITATION: Thursday, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the church. WAKE SERVICE will begin at 7:00 p.m.

MEMORIALS: To the family for future designation

Pelan Funeral Services

Jim & Danielle Pelan

~~~~ courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on files at the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska~~~ FindaGrave 290613319