Donald E. Brake, 1940-2020
Donald E. Brake, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel among the American Affinity Peoples in Paraguay, died Nov. 2, 2020, at home in Kansas City, Missouri. He was 80.
Brake was born Sept. 22, 1940, in Tryon, Oklahoma, to the late Clarence E. Brake and Violet Gaither Brake. He graduated from Tryon High School and then attended McPherson Central College, McPherson, Kansas, where he met Janice Ray. They were married in June 1960.
Don and Janice then moved to Emporia, Kansas, to attend Emporia State University, where Don received the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Education. He later received the Doctor of Philosophy in Education from the University of Oklahoma, Norman.
Brake spent his professional career as a teacher and educational administrator. In the United States, he worked in Burrton and Emporia, Kansas, and Jefferson County, Colorado.
In 1974, the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) appointed Donald and Janice missionaries to Paraguay. After attending Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri, the family moved in 1976 to Asuncion, Paraguay, where Donald was the superintendent of a private school, Asuncion Christian Academy. On weekends, he traveled to the countryside to plant new churches. During his years in Paraguay, Donald helped to start over 100 new churches and led thousands of people to the Lord.
In 2001, Donald and Janice retired after serving 24 years and moved back to Kansas City, Missouri. Donald was an active member of Linden Baptist Church in Gladstone, Missouri. He worked as a substitute teacher in the North Kansas City School District until 2018 and was a volunteer at North Kansas City Hospital.
Brake is survived by his wife of 60 years, Margaret Janice Brake; his daughter Anita Fowler (Wayne); his daughter Ellen Brake; his son Michael Brake (Faith); and his son Kenton Brake (Viviana); seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Nov. 5, 2020, at Charter Funerals, Gladstone, with burial at Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Emporia.
Read an obituary here.