Craig Edward Brodie

Craig Edward Brodie of Hudsonville, age 84, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, March 29, 2025. Craig was the son of Herbert and Grace Olmstead Brodie. He was born in Plattsburg, New York on August 24, 1941. He later moved to Newtown, Connecticut with his family where he grew up with his brother Hugh. He spent his formative years in Newtown and after high school, attended college at the University of Vermont where he became active in the ROTC. Following his graduation in 1963 he received his first commission which was to Germany, entering the United States Army as a 2nd Lieutenant. While assigned to Germany, he met and married Lillian Marie Johnson, an English teacher from Michigan who was teaching in Germany.

While serving in the Army, he earned his MBA from Babson College, graduating with Honors in 1977. He served for 26 years, first in the Armor Corps and then in the Ordnance Corps, including a combat deployment to Vietnam where he served with Distinction. After 26 years, he retired from the Army at the rank of Colonel. His military awards include two Legions of Merit and two Bronze Stars. Following his military career, he worked for 12 years in the private sector for GTE and General Dynamics supporting Army logistics, including during the first Gulf War. Throughout he loved serving his country and often said, “I’ve never had a better job than the Army.”

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, who shared with him the enjoyment of camping, fishing and God’s creation wherever they lived during their 13 moves. Craig was also an avid gardener and made every property he owned beautiful, sculpted by his own hands. His other passions were history, especially Civil War history, reading, and collecting Civil War memorabilia. Most of all, he loved spending time with family, especially his grandchildren. And he loved his Lord.

Throughout his life, he served on a district school board in Massachusetts, was a facilitator for Marriage Encounter, and volunteered as a Stephen Minister through his local church. He was anonymously generous to those who never knew the source of surprise money.

He was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Grace Brodie; brother, Hugh Brodie; niece, Micky (Brodie) Ussery; and sister-in-law, Carol (Johnson) Woods. He is survived by his wife, Lillian (Johnson) Brodie; son, Keith Brodie (Robyn); granddaughters Carli Brodie and Shae Brodie; and niece, Grace Ashworth (Louis). He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Dave Johnson; and sisters-in-law Barbara Johnson and Audrey (Johnson) Ames. He has many nieces and nephews. All surviving family members loved and respected him.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Armed Forces Day, from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, May 17, 2025 at Cook Memorial Chapel, 4235 Prairie St. SW, Grandville, MI 49418. He will be officially laid to rest at a private family memorial celebration in Northport, Michigan, the hometown of his beloved wife Lillian’s family, at a later time. The family welcomes memories and messages at www.cookcaresgrandville.com in their guestbook online.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either Warriors Set Free, 700 – 36th Street SE, Ste 108 Grand Rapids, MI 49548. warriorssetfree.org or Camp Patriot, PO Box 627 Libby, MT 59923. camppatriot.org