Frank John "Bud" Brechting Jr.

On May 12, 2021, Frank "Bud" John Brechting Jr., loving husband, father and grandfather, cast his last fishing line here on earth. Bud was born December 17, 1931, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Frank and Mary (Henze) Brechting, and entered this world equipped with unquenchable curiosity and unbridled enthusiasm. One of five children, he grew up milking cows and picking apples on the family farm. After graduating from Catholic Central High School, he headed to Michigan Technological University (MTU), excelling in singing, drinking beer and civil engineering. In between degrees and after a couple of years in the Army Corps of Engineers stationed in Korea, Bud returned to MTU and met the love of his life, Nancy Boyd.

Bud and Nan were married on April 11, 1959, and after having three daughters, they moved to Spring Lake, Michigan, where they had the twins and life was never the same! The family home was built on Lloyds Bayou, where Bud and Nan raised their family and built lifelong friendships with the Newcomers club, potluck groups and their tight-knit neighborhood.

Bud was an exacting, always-measure-twice civil engineer who started out working for MDOT and the Ottawa County Road Commission. He was particularly proud of designing the first all-galvanized steel bridge in the USA. After working in partnership with several consultants, Bud started Brechting Bridge and Engineering in 1983, where he worked for the remainder of his years. Besides engineering, he had many other passions that he approached with gusto. He loved to sing, being a long-time member of St. Mary's Choir. He also loved to garden, growing enough vegetables to handle a small yearly apocalypse. Each year he eagerly looked forward to rabbit and pheasant hunting seasons. As for golf and downhill skiing, well, he probably deserved points for effort.

Bud demonstrated to all what it meant to love unconditionally through his 15-plus years of dedicated care of his wife, Nancy, as she dealt with early onset Alzheimer's disease.

Bud is survived by his sister, Lenore Pelak of Rockford; his five children: Lisa (Jim) Pettay of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, Susan Kiehl of Grand Haven, Alice (Paul) Slajus of Spring Lake, Mary (Dirk) Stallmann of Fox Point, Wisconsin, and Frank (Gail) Brechting III of Spring Lake; 12 grandchildren and their partners; and way too many nieces and nephews to count. He is also survived by his long-time friend, caregiver and daughter of his heart, Shelley Sheffer. Bud was preceded in death by his wife, Nan; sisters, Mary Catherine Brechting and Florentine Flowers; and brother, Bob Brechting.

Dad: Please tell Mom we miss her and get your fishing pole out as the fish are always biting in heaven!

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday, May 17, 2021, at St. Mary's Church in Spring Lake with Father Tony Pelak officiating, followed by an outdoor celebration of Bud's life at his house at 15471 Oak Drive, Spring Lake, MI 49456, from 1-3 p.m. Monday. Visitation will be 3-5 p.m. Sunday, May 16, 2021, at The Spring Lake Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 213 E. Savidge St., Spring Lake, MI 49456. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Alzheimer's Disease Research Fund at the University of Washington Memory & Brain Wellness Center or St. Mary's Catholic School in Spring Lake. Please sign the family online guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com.