MARIE BRUNDIGE

Marie Brundige, age 94, of Sugar Grove, IL, passed peacefully into the arms of her Savior, Tuesday, May 10, 2022.

She was born February 2, 1928, in Oak Park, IL, to proud parents, Paul and Alida Koch.

Marie grew up in Oak Park and attended local schools. She graduated from Oak Park High School where a passion for art was born.

She continued her education at Lindenwood College in St. Louis, MO where she received a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts.

Marie was lucky in love when she met John Brundige. Their love was bedrock on which they built 60 years of memories full of laughter and love. They walked down the aisle on April 14, 1952. Although John and Marie lived in various places early in their marriage, they settled on a farm in Sugar Grove, making it their home for the past 43 years. Grief came to call 2011 and now reunited, Marie and John are together again in the everlasting love of Heaven. Marie continued to live on the farm her home for another 11 years.  

Marie mastered the art of homemaking and made sure that everyone was loved, cared for and wanted for nothing. Her hands were rarely idle and when she wasn’t caring for her family, she was deftly painting oil on canvas, needlepoint and creating tile mosaics. In later years she became an accomplished photographer and wrote and published her own children’s book, Mog the Blue Frog.

Her favorite part of the horse industry was owning and raising the foals and she was also fortunate enough to own many World Champions. Tennessee Walking horses ran through the pastures in both Sugar Grove and in Shelbyville, TN. Marie loved horses On a smaller scale, birds of all kinds tickled her fancy and Marie was fond of watching her many many bird feeders. Outside of the fine arts, antiquing was a passion, Marie, along with a group of other “antique aficionados”, rented a space in St. Charles where they sold their unique finds and trove of treasures.   

She leaves one son, John C. (Carlen) Brundige, a daughter, Jill Ann (Herbert) Derickson  and daughter-in-law, Jennifer Brundige; son-in-law, Pete Babich,  seven grandchildren: Levi (Kalina Flamand) Brundige, Erica (Thad) Derickson Way, Maria (Jason) Derickson Bobo, Clayton (Melissa) Brundige, Margaret (Brian Johnson) Brundige, Thomas Derickson and William Derickson; 6 great-grandchildren: Elliott, Ford, Conlee, Foster, Bennett and Sophia; many nieces, nephews and a family of friends.

She joins her parents, her husband John C. Brundige DDS, one brother, William Koch; two sons, Lyle P. Brundige and William Robert Brundige who preceded her in death.

Private family services have already been held.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Walking Horse Auxiliary Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1821, Shelbyville, TN  37162. Memories and tributes may be left on the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.