Father Thomas Braak Supports Loras Now and in the Future

Father Thomas E. Braak (’55) was born in Des Moines, Iowa. When he was five years old, his family relocated north to Marshalltown, where his father took a position as a golf pro at Elmwood Country Club. Father Tom began caddying, playing golf and working in the pro shop when he was just nine years old. While golf was certainly in his DNA, his Catholic faith ultimately guided him in another direction.

He attended the former St. Mary’s School through high school and says he chose Loras College because he wanted to be a priest. He fondly remembers Loras faculty members Msgr. Leroy Enzler (’24), Fr. Wilfred Johannes (’45), Fr. Warren Nye (’34) and Fr. Louis Earnsdorff (’32). “They encouraged me to be a better person and a better Christian,” he says. “My education and participation in numerous sports while at Loras taught me to respect people of all backgrounds, ethnicities and religions and to treat people as Christ would treat them.” After Fr. Tom’s junior year, he became a golf pro and gave lessons for the next five years before being ordained a priest in 1959.

Fr. Tom has supported Loras for more than 60 years. In addition to annual gifts and establishing a family scholarship, he will also continue to support our mission after his lifetime. As part of his estate planning, Fr. Tom funded a charitable gift annuity and created a provision for Loras in his will. A charitable gift annuity, or CGA, is a gift vehicle whereby a donor transfers cash or property to Loras in exchange for a partial tax deduction and a lifetime fixed stream of income. “I decided to fund a CGA with Loras because it provides me an interest income many times higher than my bank offered and should ensure a sizeable gift to the College at the time of my death,” says Fr. Tom. “I decided to name the College as a beneficiary in my will because Loras has been my second home and is a place that has always made me feel welcome. It’s a quality school with great faculty and an excellent reputation.”

Fr. Tom chose to leave both of his planned gifts unrestricted, to be used for the areas of greatest need. “Higher education is getting increasingly expensive, and I have been very blessed. My college education prepared me well for a life in service to God and others. I want to help young people have the same opportunity for a great education and extracurricular experience,” he says.

After serving 62 years in the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Fr. Tom retired in 2003. At 87 years old, he is still active as a priest, enjoys playing golf and maintains a five handicap.