William Frank Brausen

BRAUSEN, William "Billy"/"Bill," age 72, of Inver Grove Heights, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2023.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Norm and Mickey (Villelli) Brausen, and by his best friend and partner, Judy Woods, who passed away in January.  He will be deeply missed by his sister, Linda and brothers, Joe, Tony (Celeste) and Gary (Heather); nieces, Adrienne and Elise; and many cousins and friends. Bill was a proud uncle to Adrienne and Elise, who, when they were young, loved to climb all over him as if he were a jungle gym.

Bill spent over 30 years working with his mom (Mickey) at Mickey's Nook in St. Paul. As described by the Twin Cities Reader in an article ranking Mickey's Nook as having one of the top hamburgers in the entire Twin Cities metro area, Bill was the "surly burly bartender" while Mickey did most of the cooking. Together they ran the popular neighborhood tavern, endeared by so many regular customers and friends of theirs. Bill and Mickey made Mickey's Nook into the Cheers of St. Paul long before that popular television series came to be. 

A memorial service will be held at Mt Bethel United Methodist Church, 3239 70th Street E., Inver Grove Heights MN 55076, on June 7 at 7 pm, with visitation beginning at 6 PM. Memorials preferred to Mt Bethel United Methodist Church - Inver Grove Heights.