Marilyn Joan (Gosen) Brauning, of Williamsport, was at the Hospice Gatehouse on Monday, April 6, 2026 when she left this earth and was united forever with her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

She was born in Hutchinson, Kansas, on April 10, 1933, to Dietrich and Anna Gosen, as the eldest of four children. She attended Inman Elementary School and Inman High School, then graduated from McPherson High School in 1951. Joan attended Wesley Hospital School of Nursing in Wichita, Kansas, graduating as a Registered Nurse, a profession she practiced until 1980.

 Joan met Wayne Brauning at an Intervarsity meeting while he was a student in Lincoln, Nebraska, and they were married in 1956. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Philadelphia, PA, where they began their family, and Wayne attended Westminster Theological Seminary.  Joan was active in pro-life work, helping to found Alpha Pregnancy Services (now AlphaCare) in Philadelphia, PA, where she served on the Board of Directors for 19 years. She and Wayne lived in Philadelphia for 38 years before moving to Coatesville, PA, in 1994. She served the Lord at her former church, Olive Street Presbyterian (PCA), in Coatesville, and enjoyed producing the church newsletter and participating in women’s activities. Between 2005 and 2007, she traveled with Wayne to Germany, Okinawa Japan, and New Zealand to serve in short-term ministries. Joan and Wayne moved to Williamsport, PA, in 2013 to be close to family. There, she joined New Life Presbyterian Church (OPC).

 In addition to pro-life work, her interests included sewing, reading, and making scrapbooks and greeting cards.  At New Life, she participated in activities as much as her decreasing mobility permitted. She loved to study the Bible, both alone and in groups, and the “doctrines of grace” held a prominent place in her life.

Joan is survived by her husband Wayne, her sons, Daniel Brauning (Marcia) and Stephen Brauning (Sandra), a daughter, Kathleen Adams (Scott), 9 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and her siblings James Gosen, Carol Decker, and Barbara Gosen. 

Joan shared the following quote: “Death, be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful, thou art not so; For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow, die not, poor death; nor yet canst thou kill me.” - John Donne

And this Bible passage from I Corinthians 15:55-57, ESV: “O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

She asked that donations be made, in lieu of flowers, to AlphaCare Philly, 3807 Lancaster Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19104.