“Those words are what I live by,” said Bremer. “God is first, everyone else is second – I’m third,” he explained.
It’s that philosophy that has propelled Bremer to serving his community in a myriad of ways which in turn has earned him recognition as the 2021 Hometown Hero by the Thornapple Area Enrichment Foundation. The honor is given annually to an individual or individuals in the community who exemplify excellence, integrity and commitment.
“It’s a great honor and I certainly never saw myself rowing the same boat as so many of the leaders of our community who have been honored with this award in the past. Those people are heroes, not me,” Bremer said.
Bremer is a 1968 graduate of Thornapple Kellogg High School. He’s watched his three children graduate from TK and this fall will have seven grandchildren attending TK Schools. “We have great schools here. The community has made the schools a priority and supports the schools. It’s hard to believe, but you don’t see that everywhere.”
Area Enrichment Foundation will host a Hometown Hero dinner Thursday, Sept. 23 at the Barry Expo Center at 1350 M-37 Highway, Hastings. The cash bar reception starts at 5:30 p.m. with dinner to follow at 6 p.m. To attend, RSVP at Hometown Hero.
Mike has selected Imagination Library of Barry County as his charity of choice. He is asking for donations to the organization in his honor. Imagination Library provides monthly books for Barry County children from birth to 5 years old. Imagination Library currently serves 1,600 children in Barry County, delivering more than 60,000 books. Donations can be made to the Barry Community Foundation, Fund 294, 231 S. Broadway, Hastings, MI 49058.
Bremer said he’s attended every Hometown Hero dinner in the past and he’s especially honored to attend this year’s dinner as the Hometown Hero recipient.
A nomination letter described Bremer, “Anyone who has had the pleasure to work beside Mike knows he serves in a humble way and he never shies away from rolling up his sleeves to do the “heavy work”. Mike truly exemplifies the qualities of EXCELLENCE, INTEGRITY, AND COMMITMENT you are looking for in your next Hometown Hero.”
Another wrote, “Middleville would be hard pressed to come up with another volunteer that has given more of themselves than Mike Bremer. His service spills over traditional volunteer service lines. From youth sports, school, business, and church volunteer, he is truly our hometown “SUPERHERO”!”
The list of Bremer’s community involvement is long and impressive not only to Middleville and Thornapple Township, but also to Barry County, TK Schools, his church, and many organizations within the county. The list includes being Thornapple Township Supervisor and a Barry County Commissioner. He’s also a member and held many offices in organizations including Rotary, YMCA of Barry County, Middleville DDA, Thornapple Area Enrichment Foundation, Thornapple Area Parks and recreation, Spectrum Pennock Foundation, Leadership Barry County, and Middleville Housing commission. He’s also been a member of many committees and volunteer efforts including being a classroom reader at TK Schools, Heritage Day Committee, 24-Hour Challenge, Middleville Village Players, and Imagination Library of Barry County.
He’s seen at nearly every Middleville event and has a hand in planning, promoting and running many of them. Humbled by the award, Bremer said he’s honored and appreciative. “I don’t do things I do expecting someone to say thank you and give me an award. I do it because it’s just what I do. I see a need and I give where I can give,” he said. “My gift is that I can’t say “no.” I have a servant heart and I’m compelled to use it.”
Giving to others is part of Bremer’s continuing awareness of putting others before himself and putting God first. “It’s taken me a long time, but I’m becoming more involved with God and his Word and trying to live as a better Christian.”
He credits his parents, Lois and Tom, for teaching him by example how to be a good community member and be involved. “My Dad was active with Scouts and Little League. My mom was the secretary at the township and for the village planning commission. She worked blood drives and election days. It was always about somebody else and giving back to the community.”
Over the years, Mike has worn many hats – there’s the colorful propeller-topped beanie worn to remind graduating seniors to enjoy life; the baseball cap he wears when performing his “who’s on First” routine with his brother; the Grizzly Bear hat he wore as Montana Grizzly the University of Montana mascot, his Detroit Tigers cap atop his tiger costume worn to many opening season games; and the cowboy hat he wears portraying the sheriff trying to thwart the stagecoach robbery during the Middleville Heritage Day Parade.
After high school, Bremer attended Grand Rapids Junior College and later transferred to the University of Montana where he graduated with degrees in elementary education and health, physical education and recreation.
He worked regularly as a substitute teacher after returning to Michigan. He also worked as a personnel manager at Bradford White and a human resource administrator. He’s been an activity therapist for Barry County Mental Health, director for Thornapple Area Parks and Recreation, and even a saxophone assembler.
The Middleville area has always been home to Mike except for the four years he moved to Montana for school. “I loved it out there, but it wasn’t home. I had to come back,” he said. “This is home. This is a beautiful community with a beautiful river running through it. We have a great community surrounded by acres and acres of woods and farmland and rivers and lakes. We’ve got it all right here.”
“I love this community and I want to be part of the solution to help make it better for everyone,” he said.
When he’s not busy volunteering or serving on committees and boards, Bremer said he enjoys a morning walk on the trail nearly every day with his friend, fishing and learning to get better at golf. Mostly, he enjoys being with his family and attending community events every chance he gets.
Bremer said he has attended every Hometown Hero dinner since they were started and he’s deeply grateful to be named this year’s honoree. He hopes he can inspire more people to take an active role in the community in some way – whether volunteering on an event committee, working with sports and recreation or serving in some other way to help keep the community a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.
He and his wife, Janette, have been married for 10 years. He has three children, Brett, Kelly and Kirby and two stepchildren, Mason and Mercedes. Together, Mike and Janette have 10 grandchildren.
Mike said he’s blessed beyond words. Every week at the Rotary lunch, Bremer puts two dollars in the donations. “I give two “happy dollars” every week because I’m twice as blessed as anyone there. I truly am,” he said.
Previous Hometown Hero honorees are:
2008: Frank Tichvon
2009: Rex and Christine Schad
2010: Bob and Helen Wenger
2011: Marilyn Finkbeiner
2012: Joyce Domire and Terri Vanderkooi
2013: John Loftus
2014: Don Boysen
2015: Janis Fitzgerald
2016: Jim and Diane Weatherhead
2017: Walt Eavey
2018: Deb and Scott McKeown
2019: Don Williamson