Welcome West Branch High School Alumni Association West Branch, Michigan

CLASS OF 1959

Alumni Banquet Reservations 2021

Richard Hamilton
Michael Blancher
Joyce Jameson Gildner

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Stuart Bergsma Jr.

Knoxville - Bergsma, Stuart Jr.-Age 79 of Knoxville, TN passed away unexpectedly of natural causes at home on March 14, 2021. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mina and Stuart Bergsma Sr.; and his beloved wife Judy Garner Bergsma with whom he is now joyfully reunited. He is survived by his children, Bridget (Brian) Rieth and Michael Bergsma, both of Grand Rapids, MI; grandchildren Mackenzie (Victoria) Rieth and Elliot (Elissa) Rieth; sister Barbara Feiler; and her children and grandchildren.

Stuart was born in Detroit, MI on May 6, 1941. He and his sister were adopted together by Mina and Stuart and raised in Port Huron and West Branch, MI. Stuart graduated from West Branch High School class of 1959 and served in the U.S. Army for two years as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne. He was a proud "Screaming Eagle" who made numerous jumps, which he claimed was his way of overcoming acrophobia. Next he worked as a ranch hand in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona. Returning to Michigan he met Judy, the love of his life, married, had children, and continued to follow his interests as a business owner, salesperson, college student, rancher, truck driver, respiratory therapist, and registered nurse. Both Stu and Judy worked as nurses in the Knoxville area in the later part of their careers.

Stu and Judy lived together in West Branch, Indianapolis, Mt. Pleasant, MI, and Livingston, MT, but spent their longest time as residents of Knoxville, TN, where they loved the mountains, mild climate, and friendly people. With a razor sharp intellect and wit, Stu was a lifelong explorer who sailed the Great Lakes, fished the great western rivers with hand-tied flies, climbed mountains, cooked a mean Bolognese, wrote a novel, and taught his family that you are never too old to learn more. At the age of 40 he returned to school to finish his degree, at 50 he took up surfing. At 70 he learned to play violin, and upon his passing had spent 806 consecutive days learning French on DuoLingo. He delighted in following the Tour de France, America's Cup, and any sport his grandchildren were involved in. Also football, basketball, baseball, golf, boxing, racing, the Olympics-really any sport was good with Stu.

Setting an excellent example, Stu always strove to learn about whatever interested him. What was in his head, generally came out of his mouth, and while not all opinions were welcome, his stories, conversations, and Captain Safety cautionary tales will be sorely missed by those of us who were lucky enough to be his family or friend. If you feel compelled to honor his memory, please tell your people how much you love them. Without fail, he told us every time we spoke.

Stuart's family will hold a private celebration of life at a later date.
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Sonya Miller Bennet

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Mary Martin Miner

Mary Curtis Lucas...

Mary Curtis Lucas has shared some photographs of her family...click on this link....

Elthieda Grace Adolph