Lucile Broach

Lucile J. Broach passed away the morning of Friday May 30, 2025, peacefully in her home at Thornapple Manor's Harvest Point in Hastings. Born on September 7, 1930, she was raised in Battle Creek, MI. She graduated Battle Creek Central in 1948. That is where she met her future husband, Robert E Broach. They married on March 13, 1949, and had 68 wonderful years together before he passed away in February 2017.

Lucile was preceded in death by her husband Robert Broach, son Randall Broach, daughter Sandra Heath, son-in-law Robert Heath, brother Richard Dornfelt, father Herbert Edward Dornfelt, and mother Anna Evaline (Wilcox) Dornfelt.

Lucile is survived by daughter-in-law Karen Broach, Grandkids, Christopher (Andrea) Broach, Jenifer Broach, Kristin (Craig) Jones, Elizabeth (Michael) Chambers, and Great-Grandkids Ellie Broach, Baker Broach, Emerson Broach, Katelynn Jones, Josie Jones, Kaylee Chambers, Sydney Chambers, and Myles Chambers. Also, a brother Donald Dornfelt, and a sister Betty (Chuck) Hill.

Some of her working years were spent at the Delton Kellogg High School working in the cafeteria. She enjoyed her co-workers, the work, and being around all the kids. She did this back when the lunch ladies were making the days lunch completely from scratch, and in Delton that is all three buildings of students and staff.

The beginning of their retirement years was spent wintering in Desert Hot Springs in a retirement community. They were active members of the neighborhood The Fun Club where they would attend and help plan many a themed party. At these parties Lucy and Bob would run the dance floor making it look so easy and fun.

There was a summer house on Pleasant Lake in Delton that provided many decades of family fun and memories for four generations. Lucy taught the grandkids how to make sandcastles with a mote, blow bubbles in the water and how to be still enough to catch a minnow. After grandpa cleaned any caught fish, grandma taught the grandkids how to fry it. When it was a rainy day at the lake, she would do puzzles/coloring books, play games, and read stories to help pass the time till we could get back in the lake.

She took pride in taking care of her home and family. There were several hobbies that filled her days over the years. Sewing and needle crafts, gardening, jewelry making, cooking and baking. Many a new recipe was tried out on the family!! Some became new family favorites, while others... maybe not so much! She really loved the simple things in life the most. Time with her family brought her the most joy.

Being a grandma was important to her. She was always ready to go to activities, hear all about what was new in their lives, and was playing games and even doing crafts with grandkids right up to her last days. She maintained an active relationship with all of the grandkids and great grandkids across the miles that physically separate us. She was full of advice and always good for a chat.

In this time of loss and sorrow, those that loved her should know that she made peace with her passing. She would say in recent months, that even though she loved us all so much, and would miss us terribly, she looked forward to being reunited with her family Bob, Randy and Sandy. Although she got what she wanted in the end, she lives on in our hearts, minds, and many wonderful memories. It is still okay to be selfishly sad. We will all miss her.

Arrangements have been made with Richard A Henry Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Battle Creek. A private grave site service is planned for 11am on Friday July 18th at Memorial Park located at 2435 Territorial Road West, Battle Creek MI 49015. The Family asks that instead of flowers if you would like to make a donation to Building Homes for Heroes, INC at 4534 Austin BLVD, 2nd Floor Island Park, NY 11558.