James Bruce Chadwick, 87, of Fife Lake, passed away on Sep 5, 2011 surrounded by family. Bruce was born Jun 2, 1924 in Grand Rapids, MI to the late Maurice and Cecelia Chadwick. He graduated from the US Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY in 1941. He served as an officer in WWII on a Merchant Marine vessel providing supplies to Navel ships all over the world. Upon returning from the war he married his long time love, the late Charlotte "Jean" Summers in 1944. Following in his father's footsteps he entered into the family greenhouse business providing produce to local markets in Grand Rapids.
As his family grew Bruce and Jean purchased a farm in Cascade, MI where they lived with their four children. Bruce's free spirit, love of the water and sailing and the need for adventure led him to pursue his dream of building a boat and sailing to Europe. He built the schooner "Charlotte Jean" in four years, and in Jun 1972 sold the family farm and moved on to the boat to begin the journey with his family. That journey took him to sea for the next 25 years. He sailed the waters of the Great Lakes, Caribbean, and Europe. His last five years on the boat were spent in Daytona Beach, FL where he was captain of the 100 foot river boat "Dixie Queen" on the St John's River.
Bruce returned to his roots in Michigan by settling in Fife Lake to be near his children where he owned a small organic farm and sold his produce to local markets in Cadillac and Traverse City areas.
Bruce was a unique man and considered by many to be an independent thinker and a need to be his own man. He was quoted in the Grand Rapids press prior to leaving his farm on his sailing journey in 1972 as saying "The soul searching that goes into a decision to break with the past, includes a long look at a man's responsibilities and a complete revamping of values." Bruce Chadwick did what many wish they could do, make his dream a reality.
Bruce is mourned by his family, son Christopher (Norann) Chadwick, daughters, Holly (Jim) Fitzgerald, Claire (John) Chadwick, and Heather (Peter) Johne; grandchildren, Benjamin (Kimberly) Chadwick, Erin (Brad) Bybee, Kristen and Kellie Sherner, and Caitlin and Danielle Johne, and great granddaughter, Violet Chadwick.
