Rev. G. Fredrick Brucker, age 76, died on Dec. 27, 2025. George Fredrick Brucker was born on March 22, 1949, to George and Margaret (née Werner) Brucker in Dowagiac, Michigan. He was the fifth of seven children.
Father Brucker attended Holy Maternity of Mary in Dowagiac and St. Stephen in East Grand Rapids before attending St. Joseph Seminary in Grand Rapids, St. Jerome’s College in Kitchener, Ontario, and St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan, to discern the priesthood. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo. Father Brucker was ordained to the priesthood on Jan. 25, 1976, by Most Reverend Joseph M. Breitenbeck at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew.
Following ordination, Father Brucker was appointed parochial vicar of St. Mary Magdalen in Kentwood; for the summer of 1979, appointed administrator of Our Lady of Fatima in Shelby and Our Lady of the Assumption in Rothbury. After returning from studying moral theology in Rome, he was named parochial vicar of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Grand Rapids in June 1981 and appointed defender of the bond in the diocesan Tribunal in May 1982. He was named pastor of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in Edmore and St. Bernadette of Lourdes in June 1982; Saints Peter and Paul in Ionia in June 1984; Our Lady of Grace in Muskegon in July 1991, and St. Charles in Greenville in July 1998. Father Brucker completed canon law studies at the Catholic University of America in the early 2000s. Upon his return, he served part-time as parochial vicar at St. Jude in Grand Rapids and part-time in the diocesan Tribunal. He continued his ministry in the Tribunal while also being named pastor of St. Joseph in Belding and St. Mary in Miriam in July 2006. He was named pastor of the cluster parishes of St. Catherine, Ravenna; St. Francis Xavier in Conklin, and St. Joseph in Wright in Feb. 2011. He was granted senior priest status on Jan. 31, 2020, and resided at Clark Retirement Community, where he ministered to residents.
Father Brucker was preceded in death by his parents, George and Margaret, and sisters, Suzanne Cross-McLaren, Marilyn Anderson, and Martha Brucker. He is survived by his siblings, Christine Woleben, Anne (Dan) Garner, and David (Donna) Brucker, as well as many nieces, nephews, and his brother priests. His life of service, intellectual gifts, and faithful commitment to others will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. Please keep Father Fred and his family in your prayers.
Funeral arrangements
Visitation: Monday, Jan. 5 from 5-7 p.m. with a rosary at 6 p.m. and Tuesday from 9-9:45 a.m.
Mass of Christian Burial: Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 10 a.m. with Bishop Walkowiak presiding. The funeral Mass will be livestreamed on the diocesan website and YouTube channel.
Both visitation and the funeral Mass will be held at:
Cathedral of Saint Andrew
301 Sheldon SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503