Donald "Don" Ray Brake

Donald R. Brake, 91, of Fairfield, passed away at 3:25am on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at Fairfield Memorial Hospital Skilled Care Unit. 

Don was born on October 21, 1934, in Albion, IL, to Clifford and Nina (Tait) Brake. He attended college at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, graduating in 1957 with his B.A. in education. On March 29, 1958, he married the love of his life, Susan (Childers) Brake, whom he met during college.

Upon his return to Fairfield, Don worked for the Fairfield Public School District 112 as the 7th grade science teacher and shop instructor. Since he was a life-long stamp collector like his dad, he organized a stamp club at Center Street School, which was kept up after his 35-year retirement.

Don had many hobbies and interests including fishing, camping, cooking, and walking. He joined the Health Walkers, an online walking club, and put in his miles each day for many years. Don and Susan traveled to all 50 states and several countries, enjoyed cruising, genealogy of the Brakes and Taits, and making stained glass lamps and suncatchers, selling many of them. Don helped the Boy Scout Troop 170 and went to auctions where he bought and sold many of his purchases on Ebay. He enjoyed making chowder for his friends, family, and TNT Sunday school class. He was a Kiwanis member for 20 years and a volunteer for the Fairfield Memorial Hospital Auxillary for 17 years. 

Don was a member of the Cornerstone Community Church, formerly the First United Methodist Church, in Fairfield, where he enjoyed cooking the Thanksgiving dinners and Foodtastic Fridays, feeding high school students. Most of all, he loved being with his family, grandchildren, and his eight great grandchildren. 

Survivors include his wife Susan Brake and son Stephen (Stefanie) Brake both of Fairfield, his daughter Jennifer (Donald) Bolen of Lamar, IN, four grandchildren Natalie (Josh) Bowman, Andrew (Amanda) Bolen, Alex Brake, and Lauren Brake, eight great grandchildren Eden, Edison, Emmett, Ellis, Everleigh, Parker, Bradley, and Peighton, along with several nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother Flora Brake, three sisters, and three brothers. 

The family would like to thank the staff of Fairfield Memorial Hospital Skilled Care and SSM Hospice for their loving care. 

Funeral services for Don Brake will be at 12pm on Monday, April 6th, at Cornerstone Community Church in Fairfield, with burial to follow in Maple Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10am until the time of service at the church. Memorial donations can be made to either the Salvation Army or the Cornerstone Community Church and will be accepted during the services or at the Johnson and Vaughn Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements. 

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