Ned John Braunschweiger

Ned John Braunschweiger, 88, passed away in Columbus, OH, on August 8, 2025. He was born on May 17, 1937 in Toledo, OH, to Ned John and Rita Jane (Wilburn) Braunschweiger. He graduated from Waite High School (1955) and the University of Toledo. At UT, he was copy editor of the Campus Collegian newspaper and a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He also served in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Ned was baptized the day after his birth, thus receiving the rules for his lifetime.

He liked to say that his greatest personal achievement was his marriage to his wife, Ann (Cameron) Braunschweiger, and the birth of his daughter, Amy.

Ned began his career at the Toledo’s Division of Recreation. There, in 1965, he managed the National Amateur Athletic Union swimming and diving championships – the largest swim meet in U.S. since 1932 Olympic games – as well as the synchronized swimming and several boxing championships. He also managed the annual Toledo Banquets of Champions, honoring local amateur athletic and sports champions.

In 1968, he managed the US Olympic Final Boxing Trials, which sent 13 boxing champions – including George Foreman – to Mexico City, where they won seven gold medals. He very much enjoyed organizing these events, most of which were on ABC-TV’s “Wide World of Sports.” Ned later served as recreation and community services director at the Guadalupe Center Project, under the Catholic Diocese of Toledo.

After recreation management, Ned managed the Toledo operation of Purolator Courier Corp, an overnight package delivery company, where he oversaw 150 drivers and a 55-vehicle fleet operating in 26 counties in three states 24/7. After Purolator was bought out, Ned Joined the United Way of Greater Toledo as a fundraiser, and was fundraising co-chair for five years, once raising a high of $15.5 million in Lucas, Wood and Ottawa counties. Ned met virtually every corporate and bank president, plant manager, regional and district managers, and worked with all public utility managers in the area, as well as many mayors. The groups’ fundraising motto was, “If you’re a fundraiser and not having fun, you are just a “draiser”.”

Although he was raised Catholic, he became a Presbyterian upon marriage to Ann, and considered himself “bi-religional”. He and Ann were longtime members of the First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, where he served as a Deacon and Elder, and where he organized a Muslim Christian Dialogue that included the Islamic Center and the Islamic Society of Northwest Ohio. Ned worked with the Waite High School class of 1955, serving as moderator and updating the 330-student roster. Ned and Ann were longtime bird watchers, with memberships in the Black Swamp Bird Observatory and the Toledo Naturalists Association.

Camping was a family enjoyment for many years in the family’s pop-up camper. Ann and Ned visited 48 states and 15 foreign countries. Ned relished a long love of world geography, the study of the people and places of the world; he also appreciated classical music and he an Ann attended Toledo Symphony concerts for years. Ned collected Central and Eastern European folk music, as well as Roma (gypsy) music, flamenco and mariachi.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Mark Braunschweiger, sister-in-law Elodia Mata, brother-in-law, Jim Wernimont, and is survived by his wife, Ann, daughter Amy Braunschweiger, sister Barb Wernimont, many nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members, and close friends who are also family.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 25 at noon at the First Presbyterian Church of Maumee at 200 East Broadway in Maumee. A light luncheon will follow. In lieu of flowers, please give a donation to the Black Swamp Bird Observatory or the Toledo Naturalists Association.