Gerald (Jerry) Leonard Bronder: ‘He encouraged his students with love, dedication and, naturally, lots of humor and wit’

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Gerald (Jerry) Leonard Bronder
July 15, 1932 – May 28, 2025

Gerald “Jerry” Leonard Bronder passed away on May 28, 2025. We warmly invite family, friends, former students, and all whose lives he touched to join us in honoring his memory on August 9 at 2:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 2085 Myrtle Avenue, Eureka. A reception will follow.

Gerald (Jerry) Leonard Bronder was born July 15th, 1932 in Pittsburgh, PA. He passed at 92 years old, just 2 months before his 93rd birthday. He passed peacefully, surrounded by his five children on the morning of May 28th, 2025.

As a young man, Jerry faithfully served his country during the Korean Conflict as a Morse code operator. He held the rank of sergeant in the Marine Corp.

He met his bride, Marian (Joan) Egan at the California Teachers College in Pennsylvania, where they were both first generation college students. After graduating with a teaching degree, Jerry, Joan and their new baby travelled across the country to start his career as an educator in Southern California.

They had three more children before moving to Eureka, California where they became beloved members of the community and added another daughter to their growing family. The young Bronder family were some of the first attendees of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

In 1976, he earned his Master’s of Education degree from Humboldt State University.

Jerry was a beloved counselor and teacher at Winship, Zane and Eureka High School for over 30 years. He encouraged his students with love, dedication and, naturally, lots of humor and wit. Never one to desire accolades, Jerry was all heart.

Jerry’s greatest passion in life was his family. Seemingly never out of energy for his kids, he loved camping, boating at Trinity Lake, playing catch, tag, hide and seek and kickball. He was basically every kid’s dream father and later, Pappy.

No matter the distance, whether it was cross-country road trips to his family in Pennsylvania or flying all the way to Saudi Arabia to visit his daughter – Jerry always made the trip to see family. Other notable trips included visiting Saipan, the UK, China and Thailand.

His love of activities didn’t end there. He played in a men’s softball league well into his 80s, making it all the way to the Senior’s World Series. He also routinely took long walks around the neighborhoods of Eureka picking up cans and collecting rocks. On the rare occasion where he sat still, he tore through novels – a trait that all of his children continue.

His heart for service was known far and wide. Much of his time was spent volunteering as editor of the Marine Corps League newsletter (the Scuttlebutt), and their Toys for Tots program. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus (serving as Grand Knight and District Director), a weekly volunteer at St. Joseph’s Hospital and, of course, highly involved with St. Vincent De Paul Dining Facility where he is depicted on the mural in honor of his years of dedicated service.

Jerry was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Joan Egan, his grandson, Russell Anthony Lewis, and son-in-law, Scott Reynolds. He is survived by Teri Bronder-Lewis (Russ), Jerry Bronder (Kim), Kathleen Lair (Michael), Karen Reynolds, Lori Boll (Michael). His grandchildren: Matthew, Sara, Kayla, Jamie, Alyssa, Aaron, Kaeleigh, Scott, Madi and Braden. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren: Baylee, Morgan, Auggie, Connor, Jordan, Mark, Kaleb, Kaden, Liam and Peter.

Jerry developed Alzheimers in the last 10 years of his life, and always remained gracious and polite. The family wishes to thank our dear friend Maureen Olson. We also want to thank all his caretakers: Kent and Suzanne Lende, Humboldt House, and First Choice Care Home of Fortuna who lovingly took care of our father.

Services will be on August 9, 2025 at 2pm at Sacred Heart Church with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Facility of Eureka: https://www.svdp-redwoods.org/donate

Note: This obituary was updated after the original publication to add the first paragraph after it was accidentally omitted by staff. – Lisa