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Maurice Prottengeier "Bud"
Born: 1/13/1924
Died: 11/10/2024
Age: 100
Community: Burton, MI
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PROTTENGEIER, MAURICE “BUD”
Maurice ( Bud ) Prottengeier
January 13, 1924 - November 10, 2024
Celebration of Life Service : Friday, November 22, 2024 at 12 Noon
Visitations : Thursday, November, 21 from 4 PM - 8 PM & Friday November 22, from 11 AM to 12 Noon
Mr. Bud Camp Summer Fun Scholarship,Checks payable to University of Michigan—Flint
“ It was such a gift to stand in your light.”
Indeed, that is a sentiment shared by so many people who knew Bud Prottengeier during his remarkable one hundred + years of life.
Maurice Carl Prottengeier passed away peacefully on Sunday afternoon, November 10, 2024. He was surrounded by his family and many caregivers at Brookdale Assisted Living, Grand Blanc. At the exact moment of his last breath, the dark, overcast skies gave way to a brilliant burst of sunshine that flooded his room, only to quickly dissipate within seconds. It was an astonishing and perfect departure as he transitioned to the next plane of existence and became reunited with the love of his life and wife of 73 years, Marian.
He leaves behind their children, Jan, Jon, and Gregg and their spouses, Chet, Greg, and Julie. His granddaughters, Rachel and Kristina have been joined by additional “grands” over the years - Dan Sines, Aaron & Stacey Jacobson, Sean & Carrie Jacobson - as well as some “great grands” - Gemma, Asher, & Oaken Sines and Emma & McKenna Jacobson .
Bud was born in Flint, Michigan on January 13, 1924, the first-born child of Herbert and Caroline Prottengeier. The family eventually grew to become a “party of five” with the births of his sisters, Beth and Peg. During the Great Depression, they moved to a 200 acre farm in Rogersville, Michigan where many fond and vivid memories were made. During the last week of his life, while visiting with his son, Gregg, Bud abruptly repositioned his wheelchair and headed out of his room at Brookdale. As he attempted to make his way down the hallway, Bud declared to Gregg , “ Let’s go home - to The Farm. ” It was a brief lapse of lucidity and a hint that his remaining days were few. It was also indicative of his perseverance and the genuine excitement that propelled him through every day of his life.
His early years were centered around school, where he excelled in both his studies and sports. Bud was advanced a grade in elementary school, but he was much prouder to become Class Marble-Shooting Champ. His exuberant personality led two of his teachers to recruit him for the lead role in the school play, “ Tom Sawyer ”. In the following years, prior to his graduation from Mt. Morris High School in 1941, Bud lettered in three varsity sports and became a class officer.
This sense of leadership and duty inspired him to enlist in the United States Navy during World War II. He qualified for Officers Training School, became an Ensign, and joined the Seabees Construction Battalion. He was stationed on Okinawa with the war drawing to a close.
Upon Bud’s return home to Flint, during Christmas Week of 1946, he attended a holiday party that would prove to be life-changing.
Enter Marian.
The way Bud often described their meeting was romance novel-worthy. Marian Cowell had actually attended Mt. Morris High School at the same time, but was three classes his junior. Apparently, she’d since blossomed, because Bud was instantly enamored (and famously remained so, every day, for the next 73 years). By 1946, Marian was living in Washington D.C. and working at the F.B.I. She had only intended to be back in town for the holidays. As a result, their whirlwind romance was also a long distance one. In February of 1947, Marian chose to move back to Mt. Morris. In April, Bud proposed and on June 28, 1947, they were married in an intimate wedding at the home of Marian’s parents, Wesley J. Sr. & Olga Cowell with Bud’s paternal grandfather, Dr. Conrad Prottengeier, a Lutheran minister, officiating.
As newlyweds, Bud & Marian headed west, first residing in San Bernardino, California. They eventually moved north to Blue Lake, in “Redwood Country”, where their first child, Janet, was born. They determined that Jan would benefit from proximity and the love of grandparents, so the new family returned to Michigan. Eventually, the births of sons Jon and Gregg resulted in another “party of five” .
Bud pursued a Master’s Degree in Education at Michigan State University as an addition to his Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree from Northwestern University. Upon completion, he began his career, initially as a teacher in Farmington, MI, advanced to become a public school administrator in the Warren Fitzgerald School District, and finally as Director of Vocational & Secondary Education for the Pontiac School District. His commitment to education was ongoing. He served on the Board of Education in Clawson MI, where all three children were raised, while Marian was active in the P.T.A. and an ever-present Room Mother. Daughter Jan was inspired to devote her entire career as an early elementary teacher.
In 1986, Bud and Marian made the decision to retire and move to Burton, MI to be closer and attend to the needs of their elderly mothers. While they devoted much of that time to caregiving, Bud was able to enjoy the activities and friendships he formed at the University of Michigan Recreation Center, where he and Marian established the ongoing Mr. Bud Summer Camp Scholarship Program. They were also able to continue their travels to Europe and throughout the United States, attending several Elder Hostels. But, they also loved spending quality time with the many wonderful neighbors of their close-knit neighborhood. Those relationships have continued to this day and became even more important after Marian died in May of 2020.
Bud Prottengeier touched the lives of so many people. It’s the rare individual who didn’t quickly form some sort of bond with him. His ability to connect, care, and contribute was a unique gift that he automatically offered - without conditions, judgment, or prejudice.
It was such a gift … to stand in his light.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a small contribution to the Mr. Bud Summer Camp Scholarship Program. This was established in 2007 by Bud and Marian to provide summer enrichment activities for local elementary students at the University of Michigan-Flint.
Bud’s family extends heartfelt gratitude to Brookdale’s exceptional staff and emphatic caregivers-and to Dr. Larry Braver and his medical team for their unwavering and compassionate care.
Your condolences may be shared with the family at swartzfuneralhomeinc.com
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Copyright © 2024 Direct Obits, LLC
| Visitation |
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11/21/2024 |
| Time: |
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4:00 PM |
| Visitations : Thursday, November, 21 from 4 PM - 8 PM & Friday November 22, from 11 AM to 12 Noon at the Swartz Funeral Home, Flint. |
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| Funeral Service |
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11/22/2024 |
| Time: |
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12:00 PM |
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| Location: |
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Swartz Funeral Home & Cremation Center
1225 West Hill Road
Flint, MI 48507Get a Map to this location...
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