Elsie Brunkel

Elsie Brunkel passed away at her home in St. Joseph on November 10, 2023, at the age of 96. Born on August 8, 1927 in Czyste, Poland to Albert and Natalie Tepper, Elsie lived there on a farm until World War II broke out. Her family was then relocated and she experienced the hardships of war as a young girl. Elsie, her mother and two younger brothers finally fled Poland travelling in the cold of winter by horse and covered wagon.

After the war, the family settled in Rodewald, Germany, where she met her husband of 48 years, Rudy. They were married on October 24, 1948. In 1952, they made the courageous decision to leave Elsie’s mother, father and two brothers behind to embark on their greatest journey and move to America. They came, like so many immigrants, through Ellis Island with a two-year old daughter and two small crates of all their possessions.

Settling at first in Dowagiac by her husband’s family, Elsie and Rudy quickly found work and learned the language, proudly becoming U.S. citizens in 1958.

They soon built their own home in Benton Harbor, where Rudy then decided to become a builder. Elsie and Rudy worked side-by-side building their construction business, with Elsie helping her husband pour concrete, lay brick and wood floors, stain cabinets and paint. In later years Elsie handled all of the bookkeeping. They built many beautiful homes until their retirement in 1992, primarily in the Stevensville/St. Joseph area, and they would often move into a new home they had built together.

Elsie enjoyed gardening and had the most beautiful flowers in the summertime. She was also a wonderful baker, and every Saturday morning her kitchen was filled with the delicious smell of poppyseed roll, punchkins and sugar kuchen, while her favorite German music program played on the radio.

Elsie loved playing cards, especially Euchre, at home or at the Senior Center. She also enjoyed walking and walked well into her nineties.

Above all, Elsie cherished having her family together, especially for the holidays. Her home was always decorated beautifully and was warm and welcoming. Well into her eighties, she would cook for days preparing delicious holiday meals. But most of all, she loved having her family gathered around her dining room table year after year.

Elsie will be deeply missed by her children, Ursula Rodgers (Michael), Monica Brunkel-Fillwock (Tom) and Karen Deja (Joe); her grandchildren, Michelle Rodgers Craven, Eric (Mara) Rodgers, Jon (Beka) Deja, Kate Deja; step-grandchildren Kim and Bryan (Jennifer) Fillwock; and her great-grandchildren Ellie and Emme LeMieux, Leo Deja, and Sidney Fillwock.

Elsie was preceded in death by her husband Rudy on November 3, 1995, her parents, and her two brothers Edwin (Olga) Tepper and Gerhard (Margit) Tepper of Germany.

A funeral service will be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 2673 W. John Beers Road, Stevensville, MI, on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Hickory Bluff Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 10:00-11:00 am prior to the service.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.