08/11/2026
Don Brannian Leaves A Legacy At Camp Courageous & Brings Back Dear Friends. - It was a wonderful celebration to welcome back to Camp Courageous, (R-L) Rusty Clayton and his wife Jeanne, and Jeanne’s sister Kim Bauman, all from Brooklyn, IA. They came to tour Camp Courageous and to present a check from the estate of Don Brannian. Don had been a friend of Camp Courageous for decades, often sending gifts in memory of family and friends. Don was 95 when he passed at the end of 2025. He had been super supportive of the community he was born, raised, and passed in, Brooklyn, IA. Don was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, a Farmer, sold Insurance and Real Estate, and was an auctioneer. There was virtually nothing in the Brooklyn area Don did not volunteer help. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the American Legion Post for over 70-years, each! Don was survived by nieces Jeanne (Rusty) Clayton and Kim Bauman, among others. Camp Courageous was honored to have Jeanne and Kim present the check from Don. Don also asked that his memorials be given to Camp Courageous…www.campcourageous.org/donate.
Rusty & Jeanne Clayton and Camp Courageous go back nearly 40-years to the late 80s. Camp was asked to give a program to a Tall Corn District Ruritan Convention, held at a school of a small central Iowa community. The banquet was held in the school’s gym with about 100 in attendance. Ralph Palmer from the ‘RJ Center’ in Cedar Rapids was the motivation speaker and Camp Courageous was the general banquet speaker. From those humble beginnings turned into a 40ish year relation with Ralph Palmer, who became an incredible promoter of Camp Courageous, a Camp Courageous Board Member and a Camp Courageous Honorary Board Member. At that convention Camp first met Jim Foels, who became a Camp Courageous Board Member and, along with his wife, Elsie, are super advocate for Camp. Jim is the second longest serving Camp Board Member, and drives the longest distance, each month, for board meetings and other Camp events. Jim & Elsie Foels have been exceptional Camp supporters, introducing Camp Courageous to thousands. Here to we first met Rusty & Jeanne Clayton who have been supporting Camp Courageous ever since, from financial support to bringing items to the Manchester Garage Sale, to attending Cruisin’ For Camp. In addition, there have been dozens of other folks who support Camp, after hearing about Camp at the Tall Corn District Ruritan Convention, nearly 40-years ago!
-Charlie Becker
