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(Evelyn) Doris Brukardt

GLADSTONE — (Evelyn) Doris Brukardt, 88 years old, of Lakeview Assisted Living, 1100 North Lakeshore Drive, Apt. 37, Gladstone, MI 49837, passed away to eternal life on June 12, 2017. She was born on Sept. 7, 1928, in Spalding, eldest daughter of George “Copie” and Emma (Martin) Hansen. Doris was a remarkably talented woman and wonderful mother, grand-mother, great-grandmother, daughter, and sister to Donald “Copie” Hansen (wife, Belle Anderson Hansen), Powers, and Luella (Barry) Dahlberg of Wallace. She was born in Spalding but raised in Bark River and the family farm on Hansen Lane, Wilson.

She married the true love of her life, Allan T.F. Brukardt on June 30, 1951, at Grace Lutheran Church in Powers. Together they built an airplane, remodeled the original Pine Ridge School house and built a new home next door. They were married for 49 years when Allan passed away in 2000. Their marriage was blessed with four children: Larry (Cheri) Brukardt, Colorado Springs, Colo., Susan (Steven) Carlson of Escanaba, Wayne Brukardt of Escanaba, and Gregg J. Brukardt of Winter Haven, Fla. 

Doris graduated from Harris High School in 1946 and was president of her graduating class. She attended Northern Teacher College in Marquette and received a State Limited Certificate on Feb. 4, 1949. Her first teaching job was a one-room school in Watson. After raising her children she returned to Bay De Noc Community College and Northern Michigan University and received a bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education on Dec. 21, 1974. She had completed all of her graduate studies for her masters degree. She was a substitute teacher in Escanaba and Gladstone schools before being a full-time teacher at Cameron School in Gladstone. She retired after 10 years of teaching third and fourth grades at Cameron.  

Doris and Allan retired and spent 20 years wintering in Avon Park, Fla. at Reflections On Silver Lake, coming back to Upper Michigan for summers and going back to Florida for the winter months. After Allan passed away in 2000, she would travel back and forth to Michigan for the summer months for many years. She survived four hurricanes and four teenagers.

Doris was multi-talented and excelled at everything she did. She dry-walled and stained trim and cupboards when she and Allan built their new home next to the original Pine Ridge schoolhouse they had remodeled. In the first years of their marriage she helped Allan build his Taylorcraft airplane which still flies today. She was an avid gardener with many beautiful flowers and vegetable gardens in both Michigan and in Florida. She took classes with fellow teachers in Skandia with John Heath and her oil paintings are treasured by her family. As a young person she was active in 4-H. She collected many things including stamps, rocks, coins, and angels. She was a wonderful seamstress and crocheted many beautiful items. She canned vegetables and even fish, and was the most avid reader you would ever meet, always surrounded by books. She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, word puzzles and jig-saw puzzles. She was an accomplished pianist and played the organ as well. She purchased and taught herself how to play the accordion. Besides travel her greatest enjoyment came with spending time with family and friends.

Allan and Doris traveled the world thanks to his Delta (Northwest, Republic and North Central Airlines) employment, and enjoyed many trips to all parts of the United States including Hawaii and Alaska as well as trips to Canada and Europe. After Allan passed away in 2000, Doris continued to travel on many bus excursions and Caribbean cruises with her friends at Reflections in Avon Park, Fla., including the Panama Canal, Costa Rica, Mexico and the Caribbean. She took Susan and Wayne on a Caribbean cruise and Wayne on a cruise to Alaska.

Her deep Wisconsin Synod Evangelical faith has always been with her as she was baptized, confirmed and married at Grace Lutheran Church in Powers. Allan and Doris were members of Salem Lutheran Church when they lived on South 12th Street in Escanaba. When they moved to Pine Ridge they became members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church founded by her great-grandparents. Doris and Allan along with other WELS members helped to begin a new church in Sebring, Fla., New Life Lutheran Church. The church began in a storefront and then became such a success the members purchased property for a parsonage and church in Sebring, Fla. The church continues to this day. Doris is a current member of St. Paul’s where she taught Sunday school, Bible School, and was a member of the Ladies’ Aid Society. 

She was a life member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Bark River and also a member in Avon Park, Fla. She was a past member of the Highland Golf Club, life member of the Michigan Education Association and member of Northern Michigan University Alumni. She also enjoyed being a member of the Red Hat Society in Avon Park, Fla. Doris enjoyed traveling, vegetable and flower gardening, hosting get-togethers for family and friends, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, fishing, golfing, and bowling.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George (Copie) and Emma (Martin) Hansen, son, Gregg Brukardt of Winter Haven, Fla. and brother-in-law, Barry (Luella) Dahlberg) of Wallace, brothers and sisters-in-law including William and Doris (Kamin) Brukardt of Marinette, Wis., Ruth and Roland Gruendemann of Oshkosh, Wis., Al and Grace Kempf of Kaukauna, Wis., Earle Brukardt of Orange, Calif., Obie and Ann Carter of Poplar Bluff, Mo., George and Mary (Osier) Brukardt of Neenah, Wis., and cousins including James Hansen of Menominee, Howard Flath of Escanaba, Roger and Carol Miller of Wilson, and Glenn and June Ahlin of Escanaba. She was also preceded in death by her maternal aunts and uncles, Emil and Olive Ahlin, Walter and Esther Flath of Escanaba, Walter and Gladys Martin of Bark River and nephew, Billy Brukardt of Appleton, Wis. 

She is survived by her children, Larry (Cheri) Brukardt, Susan (Steven) Carlson, Wayne Brukardt, and brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Belle Hansen of Pinecrest Medical Facility in Powers, sister, Luella (Barry) Dahlberg of Wallace; grandchildren, Patricia (Joey) Morgan of Baltimore, Md.; Jessica (Paul) Koth of Rock; Stephanie Carlson of Escanaba; Kellie Beaver of Villa Rica, Ga.; Kayla Brukardt of Lakeland, Fla., Hunter Brukardt of Winter Haven, Fla. and Chelsea (Kevin) Meyer of Adelaide, South Australia; great-grandchildren, Kristin Koth of Rock, Jack, Charlie, and Anna Morgan of Baltimore, Md, Samantha Morgan of Manistique, and Amaya Beaver of Villa Rica, Ga.; and one great-great-grandchild on the way. Survivors also include cousins-in-law Nancy Hansen of Menominee, and Lori Flath of Escanaba as well as former daughters-in-law, Debra Carlson Brohawn of Catonsville, Md. and Diane Canfield Rosebrough of Winter Haven, Fla. and 16 nieces and nephews. 

Doris’s family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Dr. C. Raveesh of OSF Physicians, Dr. Matthew Ryan and Darcy Getzloff of Green Bay Oncology, Dr. Eric Jenison of Bellin OB/GYN Oncology., Dr. Scott Ruggles of Green Bay, Wis. and Bellin Hospital in Green Bay, Wis. for their great care and concern. Special thanks to all of the nurses and staff at Green Bay Oncology here at OSF Oncology in Escanaba who so wonderfully helped her through chemotherapy which gave us another two years. Heartfelt thanks to U.P. Home Health & Hospice in particular, Kristin and Ruth as well as Carolyn, Judy and Alice for their great care of Mom while under hospice care the last few months as well as Pastor Lewis Hague and Tiffany, Social Worker. They kept her comfortable and happy.

Doris’s family cannot ever thank the management and staff of Lakeview Assisted Living in Gladstone enough. This includes Daryl Miron, Amy Lund, Christy Mathis, Mike “The Chef” Hammond, and the countless numbers of aides and caregivers who have helped make her life so enjoyable and happy over the past seven years. She loved her comfortable and spacious apartment and looked upon the aides and nurses as family. We can’t name you each individually for fear of leaving someone out. She was truly blessed to have you in her life and your love and compassion made her life so enjoyable. We wish to also thank the Senior Companions for their fun and entertainment provided to Mom and her fellow residents. Doris helped to liven up the place with her wonderful sense of humor.

We would be remiss to extend heartfelt thanks to Kathleen King for keeping Mom looking great all this time with manicures, haircuts and perms. Kathleen knew Doris loved her “bling” and kept her in style and feeling great. In addition, thank you to all of Mom’s “Lakeview family” her fellow residents who became true and dear friends over her years residing there.

Also special thank you to Pastor Ronald Zindler of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Hyde, and his family for their care and comfort over the years. Special thank you to Kathi and Ernie Houghton for their weekly visits and Linda Dalgord for her special visits, balloons and treats. 

Doris has been truly blessed and so have we with all of the thoughts, cards, phone calls, and visits from the many people we can’t completely list. Thank you also to everyone at Crawford Funeral Home for their support and comfort as we end this chapter of Doris’ life. God bless you all. 

Visitation will take place at Crawford Funeral Home, 302 S. 13th St., Escanaba, Mich. on Friday, June 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. Funeral services will follow at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hyde at 5 p.m. A luncheon will follow the funeral services. Burial will be at Gardens of Rest Cemetery in Wells on Saturday, June 17 at 1 p.m. 

In place of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial gifts can be given to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 5009 “I” Road, Bark River, MI 49807 or to the Escanaba Public Library, 400 Ludington Street, Escanaba or the Gladstone Public Library, 300 South 10th Street, Gladstone, MI 49837.