John Leslie Bratcher, 76, of Auburn, Nebraska was born April 19, 1944, in Auburn, Nebraska to William R. and Sarah R. (Karr) Bratcher.  He was raised with his family in Auburn where he attended Athens grade school, Auburn junior high school and graduated from Auburn High School with the class of 1962.  After graduating, John enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country for one year before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1963.  He served in the Navy for two years until being honorably discharged in 1965.

On August 16, 1968, John was united in marriage to Patricia Sue Smith in Papillion, Nebraska.  To this union a daughter, Elizabeth, was born.  The couple began their marriage living in Omaha where John was a member of the Masonic Lodge #290, Tangier Shriner’s and the Blind Veterans Association.  They moved to Brownville, Nebraska in 1976 and raised their daughter Elizabeth. John and Patricia both became residents of the Good Samaritan Society later in life when their heath began to decline.

John passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Auburn, Nebraska having reached the earthly age of seventy-six years, four months, and six days.  He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter Janell Bratcher, brothers Rayburn and Arnold Bratcher and brothers-in-law: Richard, Rodney, and David Smith.

John is survived by his daughter Elizabeth Youngs and her wife Angela Laing of Rock Port, MO; grandchildren: Alyssa Youngs of Rock Port, MO; Lilith Laing of Rock Port, MO; Nate Laing of Auburn, NE;  brothers: Larry Bratcher and wife Donna of Auburn, NE; Ron Bratcher and wife Sherry of Valley, NE; brothers-in-law: Jack Smith and wife Jean of Spring Lake, NC; Ken Smith and wife Sheryl of Omaha, NE; Steve Smith of Brownville, NE; sister-in-law Debra Russell-Wright of Brownville, NE; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, at the Hall Funeral Chapel, 707 15th Street, in Auburn, Nebraska with Pastor Robert Chitwood officiating.

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. prior to services on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, at the Hall Funeral Chapel in Auburn.

Memorial contributions may be given to donor’s choice with a later designation.

Messages of condolence can be shared online at www.hallfuneral.net

Services entrusted to Hall Funeral Chapel-707 15th ST. Auburn, Nebraska 68305 (402) 274-3131