Spoke to James Brodhagen (b.1940) by phone about Brodhagen family history. James moved from Michigan and now lives in Oklahoma. James Brodhagen is the son of Leonard Brodhagen (1911-1989) and father of Ty Brodhagen (1960 -1989).

Neither Leonard Brodhagen, nor his brother Kenneth Brodhagen (1915 – 1971), had any lasting memory of their parents.  So neither Kenneth’s daughter Phyllis Knittel nor James heard much about their grandparents.  In 1921, the boys were orphaned, as small boys they were only told their father Albert Brodhagen and mother Ethel May Brown had an accident, and so, at ages 5 and 9, the boys had to leave Vermillion, Alberta, Canada and go live with their paternal aunts in Michigan.

James did not know his dad had a half-brother, Donald (b.1902-d.1961), from his grandpa Albert’s first marriage. When Albert’s wife Emma Fowle died in 1910, Albert moved to Canada and almost immediately married Ethel May Brown.  Albert’s son Donald remained with aunt Bertha Hammond.

After 1921, Kenneth and Leonard also lived with aunt Bertha who was still raising Donald.  But while Kenneth remained in Traverse City after arriving from Canada, older Leonard soon after moved to Grand Rapids to live with aunt Augusta “Gussie” Brodhagen.   He went to school in Grand Rapids. The family slowly lost touch.  Phyllis, Kenneth’s daughter, says the family does not stay in touch well. James agreed.

For the longest time I could only find that Leonard’s wife was “Edna G.”  But James said her full name was Gertrude Edna Edgerton. Gertrude was also her mom’s name so young Gertrude probably went by Edna. Edna was her grandmother’s name (her dad’s mom).

Edna’s dad was Avon Edgar Edgerton but Edna’s parent’s divorced before 1930 and her dad later remarried. Edna had a brother James Edgerton. Leonard and Edna named their son James. Probably after her brother.  He went to Japan in WWII.

Edna’s parent’s lived in Grand Rapids but post-divorce her dad and brother James moved to Kalamazoo.  Edna stayed in Grand Rapids and married Leonard. My guess is they went to school together. By 1947, Edgar was an Optometrist working at the Hanselman Building at 103 N. Burdick. He was now re-married to Wilma Klosterman Bogema. Bogema was her name from her 1st marriage. No relation to the Brodhagens.

James said his parents moved to Kalamazoo about 1944, at first his dad drove trucks until he hurt his back. James married Sandra Lee Needham.  Her mother is Pearl Anna Sheppard. Pearl never married so Sandra never got to know her father. When James met Sandra she was already living in her own place.  James and Sandra had a son, Ty Warren Brodhagen in 1960.  They would later divorce,  Sandra Lee Needham is still living around Kalamazoo.

1. Albert Brodhagen married Ethel Brown. Both of their 2nd marriages.
2. Leonard Brodhagen married Gertrude Edna Edgerton (father: Avon E Edgerton/mother: Gertrude) .
3. James Brodhagen married and divorced Sandra Needham
4. Ty Brodhagen married Kim