Charles (Charlie) E Bragga, 78 of Boise passed away September 30, 2018. Charlie was born June 6, 1940 in Sunnyvale, California to Catherine Pavlina and Charles John Bragga. He was the 2nd of 4 children. He grew up with siblings: Beverly, Allen and Sharon. Their home was nestled along fruit orchards, which became his childhood playground. At the age of 17 Charlie entered the Army, serving in Lebanon and Germany. He was in the 11th Airborne Division as a paratrooper and worked with heavy weapons and artillery, he left the Army with the rank of Corporal.
Charlie married Lucille in 1961 and they had two beautiful kids, Christine Bragga-Hames and Mark Bragga. Charlie worked for Ampex Audio for years and General Motors for 17 while in California. Charlie and Lucille divorced in 1982. Charlie relocated to Idaho in 1982, he had been trained to be a pipe fitter while with GM and was able to earn his plumbing license in 2 short years. He worked for Hyde Park Plumbing for 4 years and spent the rest of his career serving nursing homes with his knowledge of heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical as well as field maintenance engineer in Idaho & Montana facilities.
In 1984 Charlie met the love of his life, Suzann M Bragga, while they maintained contact off and on for several years they never really started dating until 1992. The two of them loved to go for drives in the mountains, scouting hunting locations and just spending time together in nature. They eventually married in February of 1994 in Idaho City during a snow storm (they had to halt the ceremony so the mayor could step out to declare a state of emergency), it’s a story they loved to recount.
Charlie is regarded for his proficiency with hunting. He enjoyed hunting big game using black powder rifles and English longbow. He maintained vintage values for his hunting ethics and has hunted all over the American Northwest, Canadian Northeast and the Arctic. He is a charter member of the Arctic Explorers Club. He had a penchant for telling stories-hunting stories to be exact and those will be greatly missed. Charlies love for the outdoors began at a young age in those fruit orchards, he loved to hike and backpack. He was a Boy Scout Troop leader in California for 20 years, he was known for accepting the most difficult boys into his troop. He has been awarded many awards through Scouting including the Silver Beaver Award. Charlie loved listening to music, favoring the blues, and strumming folk music on guitar and playing his harmonica. He was handy at just about everything and needed “projects” to keep him busy and give him purpose in his retirement.
Charlie was proceeded in death by his wife Suzann M Bragga. He is survived by his sister Beverly and brother Allen, daughter Christine Bragga-Hames of Arizona, Mark Bragga of California, step daughter Beth Ahrend (Steve) of Meridian, grandchildren Kyle Bragga of California, Andrew Hames of Arizona, Kristen, Sydney & Tommy Ahrend of Meridian.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 20 at Cloverdale Funeral Home at 10:00am.