The Rev. Harrison Maurice “Harry” Brakeman, 93, of Clyde Township, died Thursday, August 6, 2015.
He was born March 21, 1922 in Port Huron to the late Harrison and Myrtle Brakeman. He married Ella Ryder on August 20, 1948 in Fargo, Michigan. She died May 31, 2013.
Rev. Brakeman graduated from Port Huron High School. He served in the U.S. Army as a glider pilot and medic in a MASH unit during World War II and earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He was a graduate of Garrett Theological Seminary and served as a minister in the United Methodist Church for a number of congregations, including Mills Memorial, Jeddo, Zion, Buel, Ogden, Deckerville, Washington, Davis, West Berlin, Leonard and Brent Creek. Since 1976, he and Ella traveled extensively to Haiti helping to establish 18 schools and churches as well as Brakeman College, which now has an enrollment of 900. He also established the Women’s Learning Center, which has graduated over 500 women, and led over 30 work teams. He was active in Boy Scouts and served as chaplain at Silver Trails Scout Camp.
He is survived by three children, Gilbert (Donna) Brakeman, Vonda LeSauvage and Nadine (Ron) Porter; four grandchildren, Bethany (Mike) Walters, Carla (Len) Dyke, Shawna (Chris) Hurst and Will (Lovina) Gayowski; seven great grandchildren, Zoe, Austin, Morgan, Brooklyn, Rhonin, Mason and Aliyah; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Marion Esau.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2015 in First United Methodist Church with visitation beginning at 11:30 a.m. The Rev. William Wright will officiate.
Burial will be in Kinney Cemetery, Clyde Township. Military honors will be conducted under the auspices of the Veterans Honor Guard Alliance.
Memorial contributions may be made to Brakeman School in Haiti, Simpson Park Camp or First United Methodist Church.
Arrangements are by Pollock-Randall Funeral Home.
