Frederick William Braam, 90, of Huntsville, AL died Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at the Huntsville Hospital Hospice Care Facility. Mr. Braam was born in Hammond, Indiana, on December 2, 1934, to Alfred E. Braam and Eleanor Mersereau Braam. He graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in mechanical engineering. After graduation he joined the U. S. Army with an ROTC commission. He retired from NASA in 1997 after 37 years of service working in advanced propulsion. After retiring Mr. Braam volunteered for 17 years as a member of the Galaxy of Lights crew at the Huntsville Botanical Garden where he designed the support structures for the Christmas displays.
Mr. Braam was a member of First United Methodist Church for over 50 years and faithfully served in several roles including helping to organize a new Sunday School Class for young married couples and supporting the church’s mission outreach program at Todd Towers when it was first built.
Mr. Braam lived a long and interesting life. He loved to travel and visited all the states, except Hawaii, and most of the provinces of Canada, and Great Britain. He was a model railroad enthusiast and enjoyed attending national conventions. He loved reading and broadening his knowledge by viewing Great Courses DVDs, especially on classical music. He had an inquisitive mind and always wanted to understand how something worked or what was around that next bend or other side of a mountain.
Mr. Braam is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jo Ann Mitchell Braam; his beloved daughter, Amy Elizabeth Locke, and her husband, Nolen; special niece, Erin Braam of Ventura, CA; brothers-in-law, Tim Mitchell and Melvin Mitchell; and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Richard Braam; and his nephew, Fred Braam.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 10:00 am, at Maple Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Byron Vance and the Rev. Coy Hallmark officiating.
