Bruce Chadwick 87, of Fife Lake, died on Sept. 5, surrounded by family. Bruce was born June 2, 1924 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to the late Maurice and Cecelia Chadwick. He graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y., in 1941. He served as an officer in WWII on a Merchant Marine vessel providing supplies to Navel ships all over the world. Upon returning from the war, he married his long time love, the late Charlotte “Jean” Summers, in 1944. Following in his father’s footsteps, he entered into the family greenhouse business providing produce to local markets in Grand Rapids.
As his family grew, Bruce and Jean purchased a farm in Cascade, Michigan, where they lived with their four children. Bruce’s free spirit, love of the water and sailing and the need for adventure led him to pursue his dream of building a boat and sailing to Europe. He built the schooner Charlotte Jean in four years and in July 1972 sold the family farm and moved on to the boat to begin the journey with his family. That journey took him to sea for the next 25 years. He sailed the waters of the Great Lakes, the Caribbean and Europe. He spent many years on St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., sailing the Charlotte Jean as a day sail charter boat. His last five years on the boat were spent in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he was captain of the 100’ river boat Dixie Queen on the St. John’s River.
Bruce returned to his roots in Michigan by settling in Fife Lake to be near his children, where he owned a small organic farm and sold his produce to local markets in the Cadillac and Traverse City areas.
He was a unique man and considered by many to be an independent thinker with a need to be his own man. He was quoted in the Grand Rapids press prior to leaving his farm on his sailing journey in 1972 as saying, “The soul searching that goes into a decision to break with the past includes a long look at a man’s responsibilities and a complete revamping of values.” Bruce Chadwick did what many wish they could do, make his dream a reality.
Bruce was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Jean Chadwick. He is mourned by his family: son, Christopher (Norann) Chadwick; daughters: Holly (Jim) Fitzgerald, Claire (John) Chadwick and Heather (Peter) Johne; grandchildren: Benjamin (Kimberly) Chadwick, Erin (Brad) Bybee, Kristen and Kellie Sherner, and Caitlin and Danielle Johne; and great granddaughter, Violet Chadwick
As his family grew, Bruce and Jean purchased a farm in Cascade, Michigan, where they lived with their four children. Bruce’s free spirit, love of the water and sailing and the need for adventure led him to pursue his dream of building a boat and sailing to Europe. He built the schooner Charlotte Jean in four years and in July 1972 sold the family farm and moved on to the boat to begin the journey with his family. That journey took him to sea for the next 25 years. He sailed the waters of the Great Lakes, the Caribbean and Europe. He spent many years on St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., sailing the Charlotte Jean as a day sail charter boat. His last five years on the boat were spent in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he was captain of the 100’ river boat Dixie Queen on the St. John’s River.
Bruce returned to his roots in Michigan by settling in Fife Lake to be near his children, where he owned a small organic farm and sold his produce to local markets in the Cadillac and Traverse City areas.
He was a unique man and considered by many to be an independent thinker with a need to be his own man. He was quoted in the Grand Rapids press prior to leaving his farm on his sailing journey in 1972 as saying, “The soul searching that goes into a decision to break with the past includes a long look at a man’s responsibilities and a complete revamping of values.” Bruce Chadwick did what many wish they could do, make his dream a reality.
Bruce was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Jean Chadwick. He is mourned by his family: son, Christopher (Norann) Chadwick; daughters: Holly (Jim) Fitzgerald, Claire (John) Chadwick and Heather (Peter) Johne; grandchildren: Benjamin (Kimberly) Chadwick, Erin (Brad) Bybee, Kristen and Kellie Sherner, and Caitlin and Danielle Johne; and great granddaughter, Violet Chadwick
