Kelly James Brackin

Kelly James Brackin, age 42, of Trempealeau, WI. passed away unexpectedly Monday, October 6th, 2025. Kelly was born in Lake City, Iowa on May 28, 1983, to the late Julie Faye Brackin and James “Jim” Brackin. Kelly briefly lived in Iowa before moving to Wisconsin. He spent his youngest years growing up in Galesville and Osseo. In 1991, he moved to Buffalo City, where he finished his childhood years and graduated high school at Cochrane-Fountain City.

Growing up, Kelly had a love for wrestling, pretending to be Stone Cold, and acting out his favorite moves on his friends and younger siblings. He also joined the wrestling team at C-FC. Outside of wrestling season, Kelly took on training for Jiu Jitsu, which he even committed to for a couple of years after high school. During this time, he also spent a lot of time visiting his grandma Betty, in the nursing home, as it was next to the academy. He loved keeping her company, playing card games, UNO, and making her laugh.

When Kelly was a kid, he always said he was going to join the Army. In junior high, Kelly and his friends were able to join a Military Explorers’ program, where he experienced what it would be like to join the Army.

In 2010, Kelly achieved this goal and enlisted in the Army. He was stationed in Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he completed his basic training and studied motor pool operations. In 2011, Kelly deployed to Afghanistan. He was very proud of his achievement in serving our country. Unfortunately, Kelly was injured and in 2013 he was honorably discharged at that time. Even as the years passed, he always kept his dog tags and never left home without them.

Kelly returned home to Cochrane, WI. Though he had limited mobility, he was able to find a new passion. Kelly frequently visited the gaming stores in Winona to play Magic (MTG) and he was an avid collector with an impressive collection of cards. He also loved going to the movies with friends, cooking, online gaming, and drawing. Kelly eventually moved to Trempealeau, WI. where he continued doing the things he loved.

Kelly will be forever missed by his sister, Lindsey Brackin, and her children Gabriel, Nicholas, Julian, and Jayda, his brother Kevin (Lauren) Brackin and their daughter, Lennon, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Kelly is preceded in death by his Mom and Dad, his maternal grandparents, Maurice “Kooga” and Ruth E. Johson, his paternal grandparents, Joseph and Betty Brackin, maternal aunts and uncles; Donna Oium Sturz, Kari Johnson, Marjorie (Marge) Livingston, Richard Johnson, Jerald (Jess) Johnson, paternal aunt Josephine (Punky) Brackin. and several cousins.

Memorial services will be held on November 15th, 2025, at 11:00am at the Buffalo City Cemetery in Cochrane, WI. Family and friends are invited to join together and share memories of Kelly at the VFW in Cochrane, WI, following the service.