Obituary: John Charles Brodersen

John Charles Brodersen

John Charles Brodersen

John Charles Brodersen passed away Feb. 9, 2009. Born in a log cabin in Alberta, Canada, on Jan. 9, 1917, John and his family came to Phoenix in 1924 where they operated a citrus nursery.

He owned a Texaco gas station from 1937 to 1942, served in the United States Army in WWII and retired from the Phoenix Fire Department as a battalion chief after more than 34 years.

Married to Dorothy Robison in 1947 after a brief courtship, their marriage and love has endured for almost 62 years. They raised two sons, Ernie of Tempe and Tom of Prescott. John was well-known for his generosity and kindness and was revered as a hero by many. He had an uncanny ability to fix, invent or build whatever was needed. His company, Brodersen Products, marketed firefighting-related equipment that he developed. Most of all he is remembered for his love of his family and friends. He was an active member of the Prescott Church of Christ.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy; sister Berta Antrim of Phoenix; brother Bill and wife Rosita of Casa Grande; son Tom and his wife Nina Perlmutter-Brodersen; son Ernie Brodersen; grandchildren Brett and Whitney; and daughter-in-law Sher Walters.

A celebration of John's life will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009, at Church of Christ, 1495 E. Rosser Road in Prescott, Ariz.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arizona Kidney Foundation, c/o Patient Services, 4203 Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018.

Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. Please visit www.ruffnerwakelin.com to sign John's guestbook and share a memory with the family.

Information provided by survivors.


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