Jon Lane Broberg

Jon was a proud graduate of the Galesburg-Augusta High School Class of 1960, where he played tennis. Following high school, he served in the Army National Guard and was stationed in Detroit during the race riots.

On April 30, 1966, Jon married the love of his life, Roberta “Bertie” Burgett. Together they built a beautiful life filled with family, adventure and countless cherished traditions over 58 years of marriage.

Jon dedicated his career to Harding’s Market. He started working part-time for the grocery store in Augusta while still in high school. When the store was built in Galesburg, he became the store manager, a role he proudly held for 35 years until his retirement in 2002. Jon was known for his unmatched work ethic, steady leadership and high expectations from his employees.

A true creature of habit, Jon’s lunch hour always revolved around meeting Bertie at home so they could share lunch and watch Days of Our Lives together. To this day, the family still debates who loved the soap opera more.

With a shared love for “Up North” and the outdoors, Jon and Bertie, bought their first cabin in Luther, where they instilled in their boys their love of the woods. Eventually, they found the perfect cottage on Wolf Lake, just north of Baldwin, where they spent more than 30 years embracing lake life; winters on snowmobiles, searching for morel mushrooms in the spring, summers spent water-skiing and fishing and, in the fall, watching the changing colors and hunting season.

A lifelong hunter and passionate fisherman, Jon never passed up the opportunity to catch a bass, shoot a turkey or attempt to take a buck. He enjoyed golfing and following his favorite golfer, Scottie Scheffler, on the PGA Tour. An overall sports fan, the TV was always turned to the station with the current golf tournament or whatever team from Michigan was playing. He also had a deep love for fast things like his Nitro fishing boat, his ‘79 little red Corvette and his “slightly” modified Polaris sled ranking among his favorites.

Jon appreciated life’s simple pleasures - a cold PBR, a perfectly grilled steak, feeding the birds and wildlife in his backyard (though he was in an endless battle with the squirrels for stealing the birdseed), growing a yearly vegetable garden and keeping his lawn immaculately manicured aboard his John Deere tractor.

A man of legendary stubbornness, a quick wit and a will that only can be described by Frank Sinatra’s lyrics “I did it MY way.”, Jon will be remembered as a devoted husband, his role as a stern but loving father, an endlessly sarcastic father-in-law and a caring grandfather and great-grandfather.

Jon is survived by his sons: Scott (Christine) Broberg and Michael (Hanna) Broberg; his grandchildren: Kelly (Jon) VanWinkle, Allison Broberg, Madison Miller and Maksim Broberg; his great-granddaughters: Natalie, Parker and Phoebe (his favorite because they share a birthday); his sister-in-law, Dawn (Chuck) Ayres; his faithful scruffy dog, Maggie May; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Bertie, in 2025; his sister, Sharon Fischer, in 2003; and his brother, Charlie Broberg, earlier this year.

A Memorial Gathering will be held Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at The Venue at 68, 68 E. Michigan Ave., Galesburg, MI 49053.

Memorial donations in Jon’s memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or to a favorite local organization.