Obituary: Isaac Branstrom

I had pulled this obituary out to post Thursday, but bad weather was approaching and then we were closed here at the history center due to a snow storm.  (If local closes, we are officially closed.)  So at long last here is the obituary.  I chose this one because I grew up near one of his sons, who apparently lived in Isaac's home--three miles south of Hesperia. And his son William J. was well known in both Hesperia and Fremont.  Branstrom Park is named for William, and he helped build the library in Hesperia.  So Isaac seemed a good subject for posting.
From the 8 July 1937 Fremont Times Indicator.


Isaac Branstrom of Hesperia Dies
Father Of Local Attorney Passes At Gerber Hospital From Accident In Home
Issac Branstrom, father of Attorney William J. Branstrom of this city, died Saturday at Gerber Memorial hospital as a result of a fractured hip he received June 22 when he fell while rising from a rocking chair at his home, three miles south of Hesperia.  He was 83 years of age.
Mr Branstrom was born in Northland, Sweden, November 7, 1853, and came to this country in 1873.  He settled in Muskegon where he worked for 23 years in lumber mills.  In 1896 he purchased a farm in Greenwood township, Oceana county, where he has since made his home.  He was married to Amelia Lundberg of Muskegon, July 3, 1880.  He died on his 57th wedding annversary.
He is survived by his widow and eight children, William J. of Fremont, Edward of Chicago, Mrs. Edna Olney of Chicago, Mrs. Lydia Olney of Lexington, Kentucky, Frederick of Jamestown, New York, Charles of Goshen, Ind., Arthur of Muskegon and Harold at home.  
Funeral services were held Tuesday from the home with Rev. William Paulson of Newaygo officiating.  Burial was made at Oak Wood cemetery in Muskegon.

It was his son Harold who was my neighbor.  A friend of mine is his great-granddaugher and reports that her grandparents took her to Sweden as a child so it is nice to know that the family kept up those ties with the old country.