Founder of Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Stores W.H. “Bill” Braum, 92, passed away Monday, March 23, 2020, at his home near Tuttle, Okla. He was born Feb. 11, 1928, in Newton, Kan., the third child of Henry Howard and Emma McClanahan Braum.
A lifelong dairyman, Bill began his career in a small dairy his father ran in Emporia, Kan., at a house his farther leased that was converted to a butter processing plant in 1933. Subsequent years saw the additions of milk and ice cream production and in 1940 Bill’s father opened an ice cream parlor, Peter Pan Ice Cream Store, named after one of the local parks in Emporia. Over the next six years, the dairy and ice cream store chain grew to more than 60 locations across Kansas.
Bill graduated from Emporia High School and then earned a degree in Business Administration from the University of Kansas in 1949. Upon returning home, Bill took an active role in the business. He and his father sold the wholesale part of the business in 1952. Bill purchased the remainder of the company from his father in 1961.
Bill also met his future wife, Mary Elaine Wise in 1949. The couple was blessed with four children: Rebecca, Elaine, Murray, and Drew.
In 1968 Bill and his wife, Mary, opened the first Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Store in Oklahoma City. That year, 23 more stores opened throughout Oklahoma. The retail food chain has more than 300 locations across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Braum’s Dairy is one of the largest dairy operations in the world. Cattle are fed a completely vegetarian diet without growth hormones or antibiotics and produce more than a million cups of milk per hour. In late February, Braum’s introduced its full line of protein and calcium rich A2 Milk that could be more easily digested for some. Braum’s also has the largest herd of A2 cattle in the world.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, sisters and his daughter Rebecca.
He “had three families that he loved and cherished; the family he had with Mary, his wife of 71 years; the family of all the Braum’s workers that brought him so much happiness; and his final family, all the customers that loved his products and understood how hard he worked to bring them the best products at the best values,” a Braum’s news release said.
A private graveside service was held in Minco, Okla., under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.