TRAVERSE CITY — Frederick "Fred" Joseph Broghamer, 87, of Traverse City, passed away on Aug. 24, 2015. Fred was born on Jan. 22, 1928 to Antone L. and Amelia (Kaltenbach) Broghamer in Traverse City.
He attended Immaculate Conception School through eighth grade and then attended Traverse City High School through the 11th grade.
Fred was a veteran of the Korean War and proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1947 to 1951.
Fred married Gertrude Mallwitz on Aug. 28, 1953 at the St. Francis Catholic Church of Traverse City, and they celebrated 62 years of marriage together.
He was employed for 30 years as a glass glazer and material estimator for the Ohio Plate Glass and Williams Glass Company. He was a man of high integrity and outstanding character. He believed in hard work, in being a friend and in giving of his talents and time. Throughout his life he touched relatives, friends and strangers alike with acts of generosity and kindness. Fred gave of himself unselfishly, always thinking of others first. Some ordinary men leave this world as extra ordinary men. Fred was a man of small stature and a giant when it came to the heart and soul.
Fred was a skilled woodworker, and he enjoyed singing and playing his guitar at family get-togethers and especially hunting and fishing with his many nieces and nephews.
He was a life member with the Cedar and Rod Gun Club and was one of the six founding members of the spring smelt dinner that was a tradition in the community for 55 years. In recognition of his many years of service, the club named the building after him.
Fred is survived by his wife, Gertrude Broghamer; sisters, Francis Chamberlain, of Traverse City, and Bertha (Leaton) Noftz, of Oxford; sister-in-law, Margaret Sewell, of Texas; brother-in-law, Hans (Judy) Mallwitz, of Traverse City; nieces and nephews, Dale (Diane) Chamberlain, Dean (Debbie) Chamberlain, Diane (Mark) Larson, Anton (Denise) Broghamer, Linda Witkowski, Kneale Broghamer, Gayle (Joel) Tolle, of Tampa Florida, Chris (Bruce) Hansen, of Traverse City, Jeff Noftz, of Great Sand National Park, Colorado, Teresa (Greg) Davison, of Oxford, Tammie (Ged) Duffield, of Grosse Point, and Tara Noftz, of Oxford.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Antone L. Broghamer; sister, Mary (Bill) Warner; niece, Debbra Egglie; nephew, Robert Warner; great-niece, Monica Larson; and brother-in-law, Bill Chamberlain.
The family would like to thank all the doctors and nurses who took care of Fred at Munson Medical Center and the emergency room.
Please share your thoughts and memories with Fred's family by way of his online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .
The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.