Agnes Braum Obituary

July 01, 1932 - August 11, 2026 

Agnes Bertha Braum passed away peacefully in Calgary, AB, on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at the age of 94 years.

She was born on July 1, 1932, near Big Valley, AB, where she began a life marked by devotion to family, quiet strength, and a generous spirit that touched all who knew her.

Agnes was raised on a farm in central Alberta, the daughter of David B. and Agnes Shaw. It was a childhood of open prairie and hard work, and it gave her the resourcefulness that stayed with her all her life. She and her brother Angus rode bareback five miles to school each morning and five miles home again each afternoon, in all weather.

From those early years came a lifelong love of nature and animals, especially the family dogs, whom she always called her “puppins.” She began her working life at the Marble Canyon campground, went on to work at a bank in Big Valley, and later joined Calgary Power, known today as TransAlta, in Calgary, AB.

It was at Luther League that Agnes met the love of her life. An opportune game of musical chairs brought her together with Glen, and the two were rarely apart afterwards. Theirs was a partnership of 71 years, built on love, commitment, and mutual respect, and enriched by the many friendships they made along the way. Together, they raised four children—Janet, Coralie, Kevin, and James—in a home remembered for its warmth, its steady encouragement, and the comfort Agnes gave so freely to those around her.

Agnes and Glen loved to camp, and their children grew up enjoying many happy trips in “the trailer.” In 1969, they bought a lake lot at Sylvan Lake and built the cabin that became the family gathering place for the generations that followed. At home, Agnes was an avid crafter who loved to paint, sew, and garden, as well as a superb and creative cook who shared countless dinners with family and friends. She and Glen also travelled widely together, with journeys to Bermuda, Hawaii, New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and across Europe.

Agnes gave her time generously beyond her own home as well, volunteering for many years with the Bethany Ladies Auxiliary, where her kindness and willingness to pitch in were valued by staff, residents, and fellow volunteers alike. In later years, she and Glen divided their time between their home in the Hamptons in Calgary, AB, and Parksville, BC, where Agnes could be near the ocean she loved. Through all of it, her faith was quiet and deeply held. She never made a show of it or pressed it on anyone, but it steadied her through every season of her life, and her family knew that she prayed for each of them.

Above all, Agnes loved her family. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were the joy and the pride of her life. She kept the photographs, remembered the birthdays, asked after every plan, and celebrated every success as though it were her own. To be one of her grandchildren or great-grandchildren was to know that someone was always in your corner. She loved them without condition, and she made each of them feel like her favourite.

Agnes is survived by her beloved husband, Glen; her children, Janet (Harold), Coralie (Fred), Kevin (Erin), and James (Karen); her cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and dear friends. She was predeceased by her parents, David B. and Agnes; and by her siblings, Davey and his wife, Stella; Mary and her husband, Orie; and Angus and his wife, Mary. She carried the values of her family with grace and gratitude and honoured those who came before her in the way she lived.

The family extends its sincere thanks to the wonderful staff, HCAs, nurses, and doctors at Rockyview General Hospital, particularly those in Units 71, 72, and 59, for the kindness and compassion shown to Agnes in her final weeks and days.

If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial tributes may be made directly to Bethany Care Society, www.bethanyseniors.com.