THERE IS A CELEBRATION OF LIFE SEPTEMBER 15, 2009, TO CELEBRATE WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN JEFF'S 50TH BIRTHDAY!!! THE MASS IS AT 4:30pm AND WILL BE HELD AT HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 920 WILBER ST, SOUTH BEND, IN 46628. POLISH RECEPTION TO FOLLOW AT ST. HEDWIG CATHOLIC CHURCH @ 311 SOUTH SCOTT STREET, SOUTH BEND, IN 46601. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT PLEASE EMAIL ME AT SPUNKI128@YAHOO.COM

Our brother, our father, our son, our friend, Jeffrey A. Braunsdorf returned to the presence of the Lord on Aug.21, 2009. A man with more friends than there's 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, fallowing 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. Served in the United States Marine Corps in Parris Island, SC, Okinawa, Japan , and South Korea. He then married Shelia Jarrel and was a loving father to her children, Ashley and James Tash, and as well as their two children, Dustin and Kaytlynn Braunsdorf. He worked at Dekko Heating Technologies and for the last five years he's been 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 the American Legion Post 98 and 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), Margret "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, Carsyn Brewer, and eleven nieces and nephews. Tragically, he was preceded in death by his nephew, Justin Kolber in 2005. His family would like to give a special thank to his extended family in Columbia City, Mitch and Theresa Hoffman and Cobra Rhodes. A trust has been created for his children at Teacher's Credit Union and gifts to it would be graciously appreciated in lieu of flowers, checks may be payable to Warren or Brian Braunsdorf. A celebration of life will be held on September15, 2009. GO IRISH, SEMPER FI, and HOO-RAH!!