David Lovejoy Brundage

David Lovejoy Brundage, 95, of Traverse City Michigan passed away in Traverse City on Friday, February 14, 2016.

David was born in Oak Park, Illinois on June 5, 1920 to Margaret P. Weber and Harry L. Brundage . He attended Riverside/Brookfield High School in Riverside Illinois and Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois.

David was married to Virdell (Dell) Carr from 1940 until her death in 1989. Together they had 3 children, Bonnie Jones (Traverse City, Michigan), David James Brundage (Nashville, Tennessee), and Peggy Breed (Corvallis, Oregon).

He joined the Naval Reserve in 1940, served on the USS Neville and honorably discharged in 1942. He was very proud of his service to his country. After the service, Dave and Dell moved to Kalamazoo Michigan and later to Paw Paw. They retired in 1985 and moved to a cabin he built on the Au sable River in Grayling.

David worked for Kalamazoo Stamping and Die as a tool and die engineer for 35 years. "An avid outdoorsman," David enjoyed hunting, being in the woods and tromping around his property in Grayling. His motto was "leave the place better than you found it". He instilled his love of nature in all his children.

David was a member of the NRA, American Legion Post #68, Friends of the Forest, and the Conservation Corp. He was an accomplished woodworker and built two homes during his lifetime. He loved a good joke, Although he had a very dry sense of humor which really showed up in his later years.

In 1991, he married Romayne Wanner Staffin. Together they enjoyed traveling around the U.S. and several other countries, as well as keeping up with their combined children and grandchildren. David is survived by wife Romayne; children: Bonnie (Thomas), David (JoAnn), and Peggy; stepchildren: George (Judy), Doug (Robin), Kathy (Steve), Craig (Laura), and Mark; plus 18 grandchildren, 22 great-grand children, and 4 great-great grandchildren.

David was predeceased in death by his first wife Dell, granddaughter, Christina Jones Fisher, son-in-law, Robert Breed and siblings: Herbert, Harriet, Faith and Harry Jr.

A memorial service will be held 11:00 am Saturday, June 25, 2016 at Calvary Lutheran Church, Elk Lake Road, Elk Rapids Michigan. The family will have visitation from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in David's name to the American Legion McGowan-Johnson Post #68, P.O. Box 19; Paw Paw, Michigan 49079. Please visit www.lifestorytc.com to sign the guest book and share a message with his family. The family chose Life Story Funeral Home, Traverse City, Michigan to handle arrangements.