Robert (Bob) Branski, 80, passed away at home surrounded by family in the early morning hours of July 25, 2024. He was finally released from pain and the many health struggles that had plagued him for years.

Bob was born on January 21, 1944 to Leonard and Helen (Krukowski) Branski at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. After the war, the family returned to their home state of Michigan.

Bob was like the "Energizer Bunny." He worked long hours in automotive related companies as a financial controller in manufacturing facilities. He loved to wander out into the plant to see what the numbers he worked with represented.

While in college Bob worked the midnight shift at Ford Motor Company where he thought he'd stay, but the draft intervened. When he returned from Viet Nam, he earned his MBA from Eastern Michigan University, then went to work for Bendix Automotive. He worked long hours and had long commutes, but that didn't slow him down.

He always had time to spend with his children and their friends helping them all learn to waterski and taking them for boat rides and tubing. In winter, he taught our children to ski. When they were both on the rowing team in high school, he never missed a regatta.

Bob loved everything about water, realizing his dream when he and his wife, Marcy, bought a home on Bass Lake in Traverse City. Even then, he could not NOT be busy and commuted to Grand Rapids for several years to help a struggling company reorganize.

In the years when our children were young and Bob was a busy dad, Bob found time to be a deacon and then an elder at the Allen Park and Grosse Ile Presbyterian churches.

When Bob moved to Traverse City, he and Marcy became involved with the newly forming National Writers Series, acting as its treasurer. He spent many days wringing his hands, worrying about the budget of the fledgling organization. He loved watching it grow and flourish. When he could no longer handle that position he thoroughly enjoyed working the box office for the NWS events.

Talking with and connecting with people were Bob's fortes. He looked forward to meeting with his buddies for golf—in the old days—and for breakfast and discussions about solving the world's problems on Wednesdays and Fridays. Even when tethered to oxygen he managed to go to the Y each morning to work out in the therapy pool, advising all the young lifeguards about what they should do with their lives.

He was a tiger when it came to defending, supporting and counseling his children and grandchildren. He was very involved in their lives.

Bob is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marcy (Wallace), his children Rob and Taryn (Witowski) Branski, Elizabeth (Branski) and Eric Carrillo, and two grandchildren, Naomi and Mateo Carrillo.

A celebration of Bob's life will take place at Central United Methodist Church, 222 Cass St., Traverse City, MI 49684 on August 17 at 1:00 PM with visitation at the church beginning at noon. A luncheon at the church will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central United Methodist Church Outreach Program, 222 Cass St., Traverse City, MI 49684; Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center, 2000 Chartwell Drive #3, Traverse City, MI 49696; or Hospice of Michigan, 10850 E. Traverse Hwy, Traverse City, MI 49684.

Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Covell-Traverse City Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

www.beaconfh.com