Helen D Bradburn

BRADBURN, Helen D. Of Kalamazoo, formerly of Berrien County and Ludington Helen passed away Friday June 23, 2007 at her residence in Friendship Village. Helen was born July 12, 1930 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, the daughter of Don and Nora Haase Northrup. On June 27, 1955 she was united in marriage to Robert A. Bradburn. A resident of Berrien Counnty, MI, she lived there until her husband retired in 1980 from Memorial Hospital in St. Joseph. They moved to Ludington in 1980. She raised two step-children, Nancy and Jim. For nearly two decades Robert and Helen owned 200 acres in Mason County where they created a wildlife refuge. She was an industrial designer for Voice of Music Corporation for many years. Helen was a lover of nature, plants, and wildflowers, as well as a trained artist painting watercolor, oil and pastels. A dedicated volunteer, she taught painting to handicapped children, was a Sunday School teacher, church librarian, involved in land preservation efforts, developed brochures and articles, interior decorating, trail building, plantings for wildlife, etc. She was instrumental in establishing Sarett Nature Center in Benton Harbor; she was its first chairman and served on its governing board for 10 years; served as a board member of the Michigan Audubon Society and edited the internationally distributed MAS Newsletter. On March 21, 1995 her husband, Robert preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by two sisters, Olive Slater and Harriet Elkins, and one brother, Welland Northrup. Surviving are a sister, Alice Kerstetter of Coloma, MI; nieces, nephews and friends. In accordance with Helen?s wishes cremation has taken place and there will be no services. Memorials in Helen?s memory may be directed to the Friends Fund at Friendship Village.