Branch died at home on June 7. He was 86.

Branch’s daughter Dianna Squires said his family knew they needed to hold a public service to give all the people who knew him the time to grieve.

“We know we have to do something for Saranac Lake. We need to give people a place for closure,” Squires said.

They chose to have it in William Morris Park because it is right next to the Stewart’s Shops where Branch spent time.

Jerome “Champ” Branch’s family accepts a flag from a member of the U.S. Navy at a memorial service for Branch in William Morris Park on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

“That’s where Dad met everybody,” Squires said.

Branch was a staple of the Stewart’s experience in Saranac Lake. He’d often be seen there with a coffee, reading the paper and playing scratch-off lottery tickets. Friends of his gave out coffee coupons at the service and everyone went home with a lottery ticket.

The day after he died, Stewart’s Shops employees in Saranac Lake set up a memorial at a booth in the store. The table with an empty seat was filled with flowers, cards, photos, coffee cups and scratch-off lottery tickets.

Branch was born in Redford in 1935 and moved to Saranac Lake when he was young. Squires said he knew a lot about Saranac Lake history, and when he died, “It went with him.”

She explained how he got the “Champ” moniker that he was known by better than his given name. It began in the 1940s when he was an all-star athlete at Saranac Lake High School and featured in the Enterprise often.

By the end of high school, no one called him “Jerome” anymore — they all knew him as “Champ.”

As friends and family told stories about “Champ,” some included impressions of his deep, gravelly voice.

“I’m going to miss that voice of his, that gruff voice,” Squires said. “He always had such a sparkle in his eyes and such a wonderful sense of humor.”

Though he was gruff of voice, everyone said he was nothing but friendly. Friends who saw him at Stewart’s said he’d always ask about their family and inquire how they were doing.

“He meant it,” Squires said.

Squires said she always knew her father was respected around town and meant a lot to many people here. Since his passing, she had that realization renewed. She said she’s been getting calls from people she doesn’t even know, mourning his loss.

Numerous people on Saturday referred to Champ as the unofficial “mayor of Saranac Lake,” a title earned through his generosity, consistent presence around town and large personality.

In late 2020, Branch was hit by a truck in the Stewart’s Shops parking lot. He was injured, and his quality of his life changed after that, Squires said. Though it was painful, he still walked all over his corner of Saranac Lake to buy groceries and hang out.

When he couldn’t walk, his niece Sharon Langdell would drive him. She said she enjoyed this, because after shopping, they’d go up to his apartment to visit and share memories for hours.

Rob Grant, who owns the Broadway building Branch lived in and did maintenance at, said he loved working with “Champ” for 25 years. Branch did work on the building until his death.

Branch has a large family, Squires said, including 45 children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Branch served two years in the Army National Guard and four years in the Navy, Squires said. He was honorably discharged from both branches. Members of the Navy gave Branch military honors at the service, playing “Taps” and displaying his flag.

As they slowly unraveled and re-folded his flag, the usually noisy intersection of Bloomingdale Avenue and Church Street went uncharacteristically quiet. The road noise hushed as friends, family, military and the local community remembered “Champ” Branch.

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CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said that Jerome “Champ” Branch was not injured when a truck hit him in 2020. Branch was injured by the hit-and-run. The Enterprise regrets the error.