Loren Brunsink

Loren Brunsink's Life Story

What is so rare as a day in June? The answer is: one handsome, intelligent and loving man, Loren Brunsink, who was born on June 7, 1926. Loren grew up enjoying riding his bike with his friends and sisters up and down the steep hills of Grand Rapids. Using that experience, he entered the business world early with a double (?) paper route. Soon, he was ordering tools and selling paint in his father’s store, Brunsink’s Hardware, on Fulton, which he ran after his father’s death.

In 1952, he married Rosina Lee McGarvah from Detroit, who he met way up north at Upper Peninsula Bible Camp. Their first four children, Bruce, Glen, Holly and Andrew soon followed. In 1963 opportunity called him to Great Lakes Title Agency and a move to Detroit. Two more children, Paul, and Heather joined the family, and his quiver was full. Loren’s intelligence and conscientiousness were soon recognized, and after completing a business course at the University of Michigan, became the accountant, and eventually, president and owner, with six offices in the Detroit area. Never one to give up, he continued working until well into his 70’s.

But Loren had other pursuits. He had a rich bass voice which he blended with his brother-in-law, Bob Roger’s sweet tenor in the Gospel Chapel Male Quartet. Joining him in this traveling group were his friends Russ Van Ryn and Don Pelon. They performed far and wide, blessing their audiences. The group acquired quite a following, and were able to record one album before the demands of expanding families drew their attention elsewhere.

Besides playing a mean game of ping pong and checkers, Loren loved his family, cars and the Lord’s work. Always very active and supportive of his church and Christian ministries, he was Vice-President of Dunning Park Bible Chapel and treasurer of Bair Lake Bible Camp (in Jones, MI) for many years. Missionaries around the world also benefited from the generous support of Loren and Lee.

In 1999, Loren’s wife, Lee, passed away. In 2001, he married a childhood sweetheart, Lucille (Wisner) Laven who lived in Grand Rapids. She had been a missionary in Paraguay for many years before being widowed. Her four children, Barbara, Jerry, Beth and Nathan soon came to love Loren, too. In their later years, Loren and Lucille returned to Grand Rapids to live at Rest Haven Homes, but continued their interest in and support of Christian ministries. Visits from children and grandchildren brightened their days. Despite a long progression of congestive heart failure and Alzheimer’s disease, Loren was still constantly proclaiming the goodness of God when he passed into the presence of the Lord on May 6, 2016.

Loren is survived by his loving wife of fifteen years, Lucille and his sons Bruce and Glen Brunsink, his daughter, Holly (Lance) Giannola, his sons Andrew and Paul Brunsink, and his daughter Heather (Joe) Lombardo. Loren is also survived by his step-children: daughter Barbara (Roger) Klunder, Jerry Laven, Beth (Juan) Meza and Nathan (Gabrielle) Laven. Also surviving are his fifteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren from the two families, and his sister Phyllis (Wilbur) Eifert. Loren is proceded in death by his loving wife of forty-seven years, Rosina Lee Brunsink and his parents, Bert and Doris Brunsink. Also preceding are his daughter-in-law Nancy Brunsink and his sisters Rhoda (Bob) Rogers, and Verna (Bob) Steed. Friends may visit with his family on Wednesday, May 11th, beginning at 1:30 pm at Rest Haven Home, 1424 Union Avenue NE, where funeral service will begin at 2:30 pm. Memorials may be made to Spectrum Health Hospice or Bair Lake Bible Camp.