Carol Brondyke

December 2, 2011

TRAVERSE CITY — Carol I. Brondyke, 73, of Traverse City, passed away on Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, at Munson Medical Center surrounded by her loving family. Carol was born on Jan. 19, 1938, in Traverse City to Kenneth and Martha (Stephenson) Raney. She married the love of her life Neil "Bud" Brondyke Jr. on Aug. 31, 1957, in Traverse City.Carol moved to Kalamazoo after graduation from Traverse City High School in 1956. While in school she traveled to New York City and Washington, D.C., went to different plays and sang in the choir. After school she worked at a bank and was married to Neil shortly after. They had three children, and were involved in 4-H, various church groups, and loved to go camping.After Neil passed, Carol continued doing these things for the children and made sure she attended every family event. Carol loved her gardens, and all of the nature that came with them, especially the flowers and birds. She also toiled in cake decorating, and loved to cook gynormous meals for everyone who came over.Carol returned to Traverse City in 1980. Her family then grew with seven grandchildren and eventually four great-grandchildren. Each and every one expected something — knitted mittens, scarves or blankets — as gifts each year from Grama.Carol will be missed by all but never forgotten.Carol was an active member and volunteer for the People of Christ United Methodist Church.Surviving Carol are her children, Becky (David) Schaefer, David (Jan) Brondyke and Heather Roush; her mother Martha Raney; grandchildren, Corinne (Tim) Larson, Zachary and Joshua Schaefer, Amy and Eric Brondyke, Derek and Deven Roush; great-grandchildren, Mattea, Talia, Isaac and Karisa Larson; siblings, Kenna Jean (Robert) Howard, Helen (Gary) Cummings and Ken (Penny) Raney; and many other loving family members and friends.Carol is preceded in death by her father, Kenneth Raney; husband Neil (Bud) Brondyke Jr.; a baby girl; and a grandson, Brandon Roush.Visitation for Carol will be held on Friday, Dec. 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at The People of Christ United Methodist Church on Three Mile Road at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, with a visitation held from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will take place Monday, Dec. 12, at the Green Bower Cemetery in Kalamazoo, at 11 a.m.Memorial contributions may be directed to American Cancer Society, Leukemia Foundation or American Heart Association. In honor of Carol's memory the family asks that potted plants or flowers be provided instead of cut so that her memories will always live on with of all of us.Please sign Carol's online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.