June and Fred Brockmiller: The gift that keeps on giving!
Celebrating Love’s Longevity: Anniversaries of 50 years and more
June and Fred Brockmiller of Howell celebrated 69 years of marriage on January 5, 2021. “Dad likes to surprise Mom with candy, flowers, or what-nots out of the blue,” says daughter Penny Gamble. Photo provided by Penny Gamble.
Submitted by Penny Gamble. Written by Mary Jo David
June and Fred Brockmiller Jr., long-time residents of Whitmore Lake and more recently Howell, celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary on January 5. They were married in 1952 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Northville, Mich.
To put it nicely, Fred was a gift to June from her sister Jane. “Jane had two dates to a dance, so she gave me Fred for my date,” June—who is a triplet—explained.
The couple has two daughters and a son, six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and one on the way. Over their many years together, their faith and honesty have helped to cement their relationship.
Daughter Penny Gamble of Pinckney was asked what her parents might offer if one of the grandkids asked for advice on choosing a soulmate. “That’s easy. ‘Pray on it’ is the advice they always give when any of us are considering something important.”
Gamble has learned a lot about relationships from watching June and Fred raise a family and then become empty-nesters. “Family is very big to Mom and Dad. They’ve shown us all that a strong relationship takes a lot of work, a lot of trust, and a lot of love.”
Fred Brockmiller grew up off of M-36 and spent plenty of time in Stockbridge. From Whitmore Lake and Howell, they have regularly subscribed to the Stockbridge Community News because they enjoy the local aspect of the paper. Gamble explained that when the paper’s announcement of the upcoming anniversary edition came out, “It seemed like the perfect place to celebrate their anniversary!”
Only about one in five couples celebrates 60 years or more of marriage, so what is the Brockmillers’ secret? According to June, “Our recipe for a long marriage is faith in God and showering each other with lots of love.”
