Harrison
April 3rd, 2008, 10:35 am
Wally Bronner of Frankenmuth Dies at 81
Here is a man who really did something for the city he lived in and loved:
Frankenmuth's Wally Bronner died Tuesday April 1, 2008. Here's a look at his life and what he wrote about himself on the Bronner's Christmas Wonderland Web page (http://www.bronners.com/history.html):
"My hobby of signs, displays and decorations developed into a full-time business, and I never went to work. Since I never went to work, I don't have to think of retirement, and I'll continue the hobby, God-willing, but only on days that end in 'y'."
Here is a look at his life:
March 9, 1927 -- Wallace Bronner is born in Frankenmuth to Herman and Ella Bronner. He has two older siblings, Helen and Arnold.
1943 -- At age 16, Bronner starts an after-school sign painting business in the family home's basement, although he considered 1945, the year he graduated from Arthur Hill High School, as the official start of his business career.
1951 -- While decorating window displays for Bay City's Jennison Hardware Co., Bronner meets with Clare merchants who were looking for Christmas decorations for their community's lampposts. Bronner and his sole employee, Eddie Beyerlein, design and make the decorations, marking the beginning of Bronner's Christmas ventures. The same year, Bronner marries Irene Pretzer at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hemlock.
1952 -- Wayne Bronner, the couple's first child, is born. Through 1966, the Bronners are blessed with three more children, Carla, Randy and Maria.
1954 -- Wally and Irene Bronner construct their first building in Frankenmuth. Half housed the sign painting business, while the other half was for Christmas decorations.
http://blog.mlive.com/saginawnews/2008/04/medium_SilentNightChapel.jpgIn this 1996 photo, the Silent Night Memorial Chapel in Frankenmuth glows in the early evening hours.
1963 -- The Bronners add on to their business. Three years later, they buy the Frankenmuth Bank Building and rename it Bronner's Tannenbaum Shop, a store featuring Christmas decorations.
1971 -- The business expands again. This time the Bronners acquire the former Hubinger Grocery Store and open Bronner's Bavarian Center.
1977 -- Bronner consolidates his three businesses under one roof on a 45-acre tract of land on the southern edge of Frankenmuth, Bronner's Christmas Wonderland at 25 Christmas Lane.
1991 -- Bronner's store doubles in size.
1992 -- The Silent Night Chapel, a replica of the original chapel in Oberndorf, Austria, where the popular Christmas hymn was penned, opens at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland.
1998 -- The Bronners transfer the company's leadership to their children. Wayne becomes president and chief executive officer, while Carla and Maria serve as vice presidents.
2000-02 -- In 2000, Bronner expands the store's shipping department and two years later expands the building to encompass an area the size of 5.5 football fields.
http://blog.mlive.com/saginawnews/2008/04/medium_Bronner2.jpgA statue of an angel in front of Bronner's Christmas Wonderland on the day after Wally Bronner died.
2002 -- The Wallace and Irene Bronner and Family Performing Arts Center opens at Frankenmuth High School. The Bronner and Family Foundation donated $1 million for the auditorium. Through the years, the Bronners support numerous organizations, including St. Lorenz Lutheran Church, Frankenmuth Beautification Committee, Michigan's Own Inc. Military & Space Museum and Gideons International.
April 1, 2008 -- Wally Bronner dies at age 81.
Here is a man who really did something for the city he lived in and loved:
Frankenmuth's Wally Bronner died Tuesday April 1, 2008. Here's a look at his life and what he wrote about himself on the Bronner's Christmas Wonderland Web page (http://www.bronners.com/history.html):
"My hobby of signs, displays and decorations developed into a full-time business, and I never went to work. Since I never went to work, I don't have to think of retirement, and I'll continue the hobby, God-willing, but only on days that end in 'y'."
Here is a look at his life:
March 9, 1927 -- Wallace Bronner is born in Frankenmuth to Herman and Ella Bronner. He has two older siblings, Helen and Arnold.
1943 -- At age 16, Bronner starts an after-school sign painting business in the family home's basement, although he considered 1945, the year he graduated from Arthur Hill High School, as the official start of his business career.
1951 -- While decorating window displays for Bay City's Jennison Hardware Co., Bronner meets with Clare merchants who were looking for Christmas decorations for their community's lampposts. Bronner and his sole employee, Eddie Beyerlein, design and make the decorations, marking the beginning of Bronner's Christmas ventures. The same year, Bronner marries Irene Pretzer at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hemlock.
1952 -- Wayne Bronner, the couple's first child, is born. Through 1966, the Bronners are blessed with three more children, Carla, Randy and Maria.
1954 -- Wally and Irene Bronner construct their first building in Frankenmuth. Half housed the sign painting business, while the other half was for Christmas decorations.
http://blog.mlive.com/saginawnews/2008/04/medium_SilentNightChapel.jpgIn this 1996 photo, the Silent Night Memorial Chapel in Frankenmuth glows in the early evening hours.
1963 -- The Bronners add on to their business. Three years later, they buy the Frankenmuth Bank Building and rename it Bronner's Tannenbaum Shop, a store featuring Christmas decorations.
1971 -- The business expands again. This time the Bronners acquire the former Hubinger Grocery Store and open Bronner's Bavarian Center.
1977 -- Bronner consolidates his three businesses under one roof on a 45-acre tract of land on the southern edge of Frankenmuth, Bronner's Christmas Wonderland at 25 Christmas Lane.
1991 -- Bronner's store doubles in size.
1992 -- The Silent Night Chapel, a replica of the original chapel in Oberndorf, Austria, where the popular Christmas hymn was penned, opens at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland.
1998 -- The Bronners transfer the company's leadership to their children. Wayne becomes president and chief executive officer, while Carla and Maria serve as vice presidents.
2000-02 -- In 2000, Bronner expands the store's shipping department and two years later expands the building to encompass an area the size of 5.5 football fields.
http://blog.mlive.com/saginawnews/2008/04/medium_Bronner2.jpgA statue of an angel in front of Bronner's Christmas Wonderland on the day after Wally Bronner died.
2002 -- The Wallace and Irene Bronner and Family Performing Arts Center opens at Frankenmuth High School. The Bronner and Family Foundation donated $1 million for the auditorium. Through the years, the Bronners support numerous organizations, including St. Lorenz Lutheran Church, Frankenmuth Beautification Committee, Michigan's Own Inc. Military & Space Museum and Gideons International.
April 1, 2008 -- Wally Bronner dies at age 81.