Thomas “Ed” Brault Sr.

Thomas “Ed” Brault Sr., age 75, passed away unexpectedly on June 13th, 2022, at Kidron Bethel Health Care Center, North Newton, Kansas. Ed was born on March 7th, 1947, to Eli E. and Josephine Brault.

Ed was a Hill City Jaycee. After moving to Newton, Ed joined the Newton Jaycees. Ed enjoyed working all the Jaycees projects, but enjoyed being “Santa” and working in the haunted houses with his wife, Anna, the most. Ed and Anna worked for Ed’s cousin, Vince Berland, and the farm’s manager, Paul Berland. Ed loved working with the greyhounds and working outdoors. Ed and Anna left The Flying Eagles after Ed was diagnosed with heart issues.

Ed and Anna moved to Plainville in 1995 where Ed was employed at Gary’s Western Auto. Ed enjoyed visiting with the customers as Ed and Tommy installed the appliances and furniture. Ed’s health continued to deteriorate. In 2004, Ed’s cardiologist diagnosed Ed with congestive heart failure, declaring Ed disabled. Ed was forced to retire at the age of 62. In 2005, Ed and Anna moved to Garden City. Ed’s health continued to deteriorate. Ed’s doctor advised him that if he was lucky he had maybe one to two years left.

Ed entered Kidron Bethel Health Care on March 17, 2019. Thanks to the wonderful care of Ed’s nurses, Ed lived three years and three months longer than his heart specialist thought Ed would. Ed and Anna considered each extra day they had together as a special gift. The first year, Ed enjoyed visiting with the residents in Health Care, reading and writing letters for the residents, calling Bingo, and daily visits with his ex-wife Anna. After COVID-19 closed down the Health Care Unit to visitors, the last two years Ed enjoyed visits from his nurses and the staff who dropped by for short visits and to check on Ed and Anna when visitors were allowed into Health Care. Ed spent his days in his room working puzzles with a neighbor, and writing letters to his friends in the Plainville area. Ed hoped his friends knew how much their cards and letters meant to him. Anna wishes to thank everyone for your kindness by writing to Ed over the years. They brought him hours and days of enjoyment reading them over and over.

Ed is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Levi Brault; and Ed’s eldest son, Thomas Edward Brault Jr.

As a disabled Navy veteran, Ed has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made out to Midwest Battle Buddies and sent to Petersen Family Funeral Home, 215 N. Main Street, Newton, KS 67114. Midwest Battle Buddies is a nonprofit that provides service dogs and training to disabled veterans at no cost to the veteran.

Per Ed’s wishes, no funeral or memorial service was held and cremation has taken place.