Bruce W. Broersma

Bruce William Broersma passed peacefully on September 18, 2021, surrounded in love, with his family by his side. Bruce was a loving husband to wife, Diane Broersma (Martyniek), father to daughters Jill Broersma Olson and Stacey Broersma George (Justin). Sisters Betty Porter (Hal) and Bonnie McCluskey (Jon) will miss their big brother who loved swimming with them in the weedy waters of Reeds Lake as kids and who loved to tease his little sisters.

He was born to William and Annette (Ritsema) Broersma, went to Ferris State University and served his country in the US Army Reserve. In 1968, Bruce and his father Bill, started a real estate appraisal company (Broersma & Broersma Appraisers). The company is still in existence today and is run by his daughter, Stacey Broersma. Bruce was President of the Grand Rapids Society of Real Estate Appraisers in prior years. Honesty, hard work and impeccable integrity were hallmarks of Bruce which he exhibited both personally and professionally.

In his younger years, he was all work and not a lot of play. But in his later years, he mellowed and started to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Diane and Bruce became avid boaters and cherished their numerous friendships at Grand Isle Marina and the trips they took up north with their friends.

Tiring of the cold, Diane and Bruce migrated to the Landings in Ft. Myers and met some of the best friends of their lives. Being a snowbird, Bruce took up golf. He was terrible. But he more than made up for it with his skills on the grill. Bruce “pretended to work” from his home in Florida, but we knew he was really playing Solitaire on his computer most of the time.

Bruce was a solid, steady, ‘John Wayne’ kind of man. He would give you the shirt off his back and was quietly generous to many causes. He had a very strong moral compass and shared his values and adoration with his children and grandchildren, Peyton, Campbell and Kendall George and Jack Olson.

The family would like to thank the staff at Holland Home BEC for loving and caring for Bruce so compassionately.

The family would ask that any donations in his honor be made to The Alzheimer's Association.

A private “Celebration of Life” will be held in the weeks ahead. We will honor his spirit and give thanks to God for this incredibly kind, witty gentleman and rock of our family. We will also be playing Johnny Cash and George Strait, just as he would want it.

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