Patrick “Swoope” Braniff, 59, died of pancreatic cancer in his Blandinsville home on May 5, 2025 surrounded by family. Born in 1965 in Carbondale to Beverly Braniff and Larry Braniff, his family lived in Macomb for several years and moved to Forest Park later in his childhood where he lived into his adult life. He worked for the Public Works Department of Forest Park for 33 years.
He retired and returned to western Illinois in 2022 to purchase his mother’s property in Blandinsville, where he lived until his death.
A caring father, friend, and partner, he had a passion for gardening and took great pride in making an area look its best, both personally and professionally in his work in Forest Park. He enjoyed hunting on his family property in Blandinsville. Another passion was slow-pitch softball and he spent many summer days out on the field. He was an Eagle Scout, Boy Scout troop leader, and coached for all of his children’s sports.
Pat is survived by his mother, Beverly Braniff; his children, Cassie Braniff, Liz (Austin) Hale, and Evan Braniff; his brother, Shawn Braniff; his half-sister, Erin Rehm; his step-sister, Jacque Wilson; his step-brother, Darren Wilson; and his partner, Michelle Beckmann. He was preceded in death by his father, Larry Braniff, and his maternal and paternal grandparents.
There will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday, June 14 at the Forest Park Community Center from 12 to 8 p.m. For more information, please email his daughter Liz, l.braniff@yahoo.com.