Mary L. Brand
5/14/1928 – 5/20/2018
Kalamazoo, MI

Mary L. Brand passed away on Sunday morning, May 20 at her home. Mary was born in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Dr. Oren Wesley Brand and Laura Potthoff Brand. She graduated from Sac City, Iowa high school, earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and Education from Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa, and later received a Master’s degree in Communications from Western Michigan University.

Mary taught English Literature, Speech, and Drama at high schools in Moville, Iowa, and Rosemount, Minnesota, and her most rewarding teaching experience was in Michigan at Delton-Kellogg High school, where she served as Chairperson for Language Arts K-12. She also initiated the founding of the Delton-Kellogg National Honor Society, for which she served as advisor.

Mary’s had wide and varied cultural and athletic interests from a young age, and this continued throughout her life. She played the clarinet, piano, and organ, and sang in many choirs. In her teens, she began teaching herself about classical music, and participated in the Bach chorus in her home town. Art, literature, and history were her great loves, and she was always interested in current events. After retirement, she served on the Kalamazoo Friends of the Library board and worked in the bookstore, where she made many friends.

Mary was an avid tennis player and golfer, and she participated in local running events. To her, the high point of jogging was her run on the original Olympic track in Greece. Other travels included trips to England, Italy, and China.

One of the most important philosophies that Mary lived by was to focus on the importance of her relationships with people. If asked to choose between being “right” in the relationship or maintaining the relationship peacefully, she said she would always choose to support the relationship first. This accepting approach earned her many loyal and dedicated friends of all ages, personalities, and walks of life.

Mary is survived by her children, son Matthew Brumbaugh (Donna, and their children Madison Brumbaugh and Jay Bylund), daughter Elise Brumbaugh, son Stephen Brumbaugh (Katie, and their children Jim Amos and Karly Amos), and her sister, Patricia Green. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Jo Irons.

A memorial service is planned at the chapel of St. Luke’s Church, Kalamazoo, Michigan on Saturday, June 9th at 11:00 a.m. Those wishing to give a memorial could contribute to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, or to the charity of their choice.

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