Edward John Bronish, II (1937-2015)

WELD – Edward John Bronish II, 77, passed away on Oct. 3, 2015 at his home in Weld surrounded by his family after a long illness.

Ed, “Sonny” as his close friends and family knew him, was born in Newark, N.J. on Dec. 29, 1937 to the late Edward John Bronish and Ann Hodulik Bronish. He was raised in Clinton, N.J. and graduated from North Hunterdon Regional High School. He was active in most sports. After high school he was employed by New Jersey Power and Light, working out of Washington and later Bernardsville. On Feb. 15, 1958, he married Adele Hopler from Chester, N.J. and they made their home in Norton, N.J., where they had five children.

“Sonny” was an accomplished marksman and skeet shooter and worked part time for the NRA sanctioned Grouse Ridge Skeet Club in Clinton. It was there that he honed his skills as an amateur skeet shooter. He participated in many skeet shooting championship events throughout the Mid Atlantic and New England states and in Canada and won several gold, silver and bronze medals. In 1967 he qualified for the 1968 Olympics in Skeet Shooting in Mexico City and traveled to San Antonio Texas, where the final qualifying was held but because of an illness was not able to participate.

Ed was an accomplished musician and although he could play any instrument or any song in any genre, he was the master of the accordion. He played in a local New Jersey band called the Jersey Rounders, which featured his brothers Richard “Bud” Bronish on drums, and Robert “Bob” Bronish on guitar. They toured around New Jersey, New York state, and eastern Pennsylvania and opened occasionally for some big name acts of the era.

Ed was an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting, fishing, and trapping and had a “local reputation” around Hunterdon County as the “go to guy” to get rid of the occasional nuisance deer, or trouble muskrat. It was also noted that he was on a first name basis with all the game wardens as well. In the late ’50s early ’60s, Ed began traveling with his friend Joe Beal and Uncle Steve Emm to northern Maine to spend a week each year camping in a tent along the Wassataquiok River deer hunting. It was during one of those early trips that he bagged a 315-pound, 14-point buck.

In 1969 he moved his family of seven from New Jersey to Weld, Maine, where he and Adele owned and ran the Weld General Store until 1974. He then owned and operated Bronish and Sons logging. In 1980 he went to work for GH Bass Co., as a night watchman. He moved his way up to the night shift maintenance supervisor, a position he held till his retirement. He remained active in the outdoors spending time with his family camping, hunting, trapping and snowmobiling throughout many locations in Maine including several moose hunts and frequent hunting and fishing trips to remote camping areas including Nesowadnehunk, Eustis and up along the East Branch of the Penobscot River.

After his retirement he continued playing music on his keyboard at several local clubs and venues and enjoyed entertaining with many local Maine musicians.

Edward was predeceased by his wife Adele.

He is survived by his mother Ann Hodulik Bronish of Edison, N.J.; a sister, Joan Bronish Jablonski of Annandale, N.J.; two brothers: Richard Bronish of Mt Bethel, Pa., and Robert Bronish of Pittstown NJ.; his companion, Carolyn Burbank of Weld; his children: Edward Bronish III and wife Shelley Berry Bronish of Dixfield, Adele Bronish Fulcher and husband Robert Fulcher of Leasburg, N.C., Stephen Bronish and wife Heather McLennan Bronish, of Livermore Falls,  Terry Bronish Roderick and husband William Roderick, of West Gardiner, and Michael Bronish of Jay; 18 grandchildren: Blaine ‘Beepo’ Bronish, Matthew Bronish, Barbii Richards, Derek Richards, Bobby Fulcher, Ashton Fulcher Walters, Alex Bronish, Abby Bronish Cain, Andrew Bronish, Ariel Bronish, Justin Gordon, Kim Gordon Pease, Katie Gordon Hoedl, Christopher Gordon, Brianna Roderick, Courtney Roderick, Cashlin Bronish, Dillen Bronish, and many great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Hospice Care nurses Patti, Bonnie and Karen for their professional care. The family would like to also thank Donna Burbank Clark for her special care of Ed during his illness.

Edward requested no memorial service so in lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Ed’s name to Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, 15 Strawberry Ave., Auburn, ME 04240. Arrangements are under the direction of Adams-McFarlane Funeral & Cremation 108 Court St. Farmington. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.adamsmcfarlane.com.