Jeffrey A. "Jake" Braunsdorf

Sept. 15, 1959 - Aug. 21, 2009
SOUTH BEND - Our brother, our father, our son, our friend, Jeffrey Alan "Jake" Braunsdorf, 49, returned to the presence of the Lord on August 21, 2009. A man with more friends than there are leaves on a tree, Jake started his journey on Sept. 15, 1959, in South Bend, IN, born to Warren "Dyke" and Camilla "Rosie" Braunsdorf. Always the gentleman, he let the lady go first, following his twin sister Margaret.

He attended Marquette Elementary School, Holy Cross Grade School, Central High School and LaSalle High School in South Bend where he participated in many activities. In 1981 he married Wendy Hostetler, with whom he had two sons, Jeremy and Joshua.

He served in the United Sates Marine Corps at Parris Island, SC, Okinawa, Japan, and South Korea.

He then married Sheila Jarrell and in 1993 was a loving father to her children, Ashley and James Tash, as well as their two children, Dustin and Kaytlynn Braunsdorf.

He worked at Dekko Heating Technologies, and for the last five years was production manager at Hyndman Industrial Products. In those five years they become a second family to him. Jake was in a wide variety of undertakings including coaching soccer and football at the YMCA. He was a proud member of American Legion Post 98 and the Leatherneck Breakfast Club. St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church was the center of the family's practice of faith.

He is survived by his parents, Dyke and Rosie; and his siblings, Mary (Mrs. Jerry Baranowski), Margaret "Maggie" Ray, Colleen Echard, Judith Kolber, Timothy (Tammy) Braunsdorf and Brian (Carol) Braunsdorf, all of the South Bend area. His six children, Jeremy (Beverly) of Vidalia, GA, Joshua of Mishawaka, IN, Ashley (Nicholas) Brewer, James Tash, Dustin and Kaytlynn Braunsdorf of Columbia City; and three grandchildren, Chloe and Cadence Braunsdorf, and Carsyn Brewer; and 11 nieces and nephews.

Tragically, he was preceded in death by his nephew, Justin Kolber in 2005.

His family would like to give a special thanks to his extended family in Columbia City, Mitch and Theresa Hoffman and Cobra Rhodes. A trust has been created for his children at Teachers Credit Union, and gifts to it would be graciously appreciated in lieu of flowers. Checks may be made payable to Warren or Brian Braunsdorf. A celebration of life will be held on September 15, 2009. For more details please visit www.memorial2u.com/Jeffrey_Braunsdorf/ld/91. GO IRISH, SEMPER FI, and HOORAH!!

Published by South Bend Tribune on Aug. 25, 2009.

08/28/2022 EJS