John Gilbert Branca

BRANCA, JOHN GILBERT, of St. Cloud, Florida was a very special person who loved to be around people.ÿ He was born in Harrisburg, PA and moved to Florida in 1979.ÿ He died at age 86 on April 7, 2008 after several years of dealing with pain from Spinal Stenosis.ÿ He enlisted in the Army during WW2 and was trained as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne, sent to Africa and then parachuted into the fighting in Italy where he received the Silver Star for gallantry in action.ÿ While fighting in Europe he received a Battlefield Commission, 3 Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart.ÿ After the war he attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J. and came home every weekend to run a printing business in Harrisburg with his partner.ÿ After 2 years he joined the PA 28th Division National Guard, left college and went into the printing business full time.ÿ In 1946 he met Dolores Smith who had just been discharged from the Coast Guard.ÿ They were married in 1947 for 60 happy years.ÿ During the Korean war the 28th Division was called back into service and sent to Germany as Army of Occupation.ÿ John had to sell the printing business but was able to bring his wife and 2 small children to Germany where they spent2 years.ÿ When they returned home he took a full time job working in the PA 28th Div. National Guard headquarters on the General?s Staff where he worked for 14 years.ÿ His dream of going into business for himself came true when he opened a Tur-Value Home & Auto Center in Middletown, PA.ÿ Eventually they deciedde to move to Titusville, FL where they opened a stained galas teaching studio. He loved teaching stained glass and continued for 10 years. He retired a Colonel form th Army Rserrves in 1981 and started the development of Teka Village with his friend Ed Large.ÿ They and a goup of 60 people from Guilfstream Harbor in Orland formed a coorporaton, purchased 45 acres ai St. Cloud and devolped Teka village, a co-op.ÿ When you buy a home you becom e part owner of the Village.ÿ He is survived by his wife, Dolores.ÿ They had 2 children.ÿ Their daughter Bonita Kreps died at age 51.ÿ There Son, Glenn Brance lives in NeowYork City.ÿ They have 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.ÿ Arrangements entrusted to Osceola Memory Gardens, 2000 13th Street, St. Cloud, Fl, 407-957-2511, www. osceolamemgds.com for on-line condolences. ÿ

John Gilbert Branca

October 12, 1921 - April 7, 2008