Howard C. "Skip" Brossard Jr., 62, died suddenly with his wife, Eileen M. Brossard, by his side on Sunday, January 5, 2014 at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Skip was born in Duluth, Minnesota to Mary and Howard "Howie" Brossard on July 2, 1951. He grew up on Grindstone Lake with his parents and grandparents. As a child, Skip enjoyed life on the lake especially the time he spent with his grandfather, and summers spent with the children of families that came to stay at Brossard's Resort. Skip graduated from Hayward High School in 1969 and earned his Bachelor's degree from University of Wisconsin, Stout in 1973.

After college Skip married Eileen M. Buck of Stone Lake, Wisconsin on February 14, 1975. Shortly thereafter, he pursued a career in the U.S. Coast Guard. During his 25 years in the service as a mechanical engineer, Skip worked his way from Seaman Apprentice to Chief, from Chief to Warrant Officer, and from Warrant Officer to Lieutenant. From early in his career Skip was the officer in charge of engineering and took pride in doing his part to keep the ship ship-shape.

During his service Skip and Eileen had two children Howard C. "Chip" and Kimberly M. Brossard. The family followed Skip to his various duty stations including: Luddington, Michigan, Duluth, Minnesota, Two Harbors, Minnesota, South Portland, Maine (aboard the Shackle), Dubuque, IA (aboard the Wyaconda); Miami, Florida (aboard the Farallon); Mannasquan, New Jersey (Station Mannasquan Inlet), Washington, DC (Coast Guard Headquarters); Baltimore, MD (aboard the Red Birch); Cape May, New Jersey (aboard the Vigorous); Baltimore, MD (Engineering Office). Skip retired from service on September 1, 2001 and thereafter returned with his wife to his family home on Grindstone Lake.

Upon retirement, with the pressures of a full-time career behind him, Skip looked for projects to fill his "free" time and busy his hands, body and mind. Skip and Eileen refurbished the Brossard family home and then designed and largely built a new home on the property. With his mechanical skills, Skip became the go-to handy man for friends and neighbors in the areas. He was quick to offer assistance and enjoyed the fellowship that came with the work. Skip later put those same skills to work at Gemoban Resort on Round Lake as handyman.

Having retired away from their children, Skip and Eileen further opened their home to children of the four-legged variety and had a special fondness for English Setters. Having, at times, up to five dogs, Skip loved his four-legged children, their antics, compassion and companionship.

Skip and Eileen shared a great love replete with inside jokes, nicknames, shared interests and plans for the future. Married for almost 39 years, Skip and Eileen cherished each other and enjoyed their time together. Soulmates, they didn't need to speak, and when they did, they could complete each other's sentences.

Skip was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on December 19, 2013. He had plans to fight the disease as long as possible and traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester over Christmas to formulate a plan to fight the disease. After his diagnosis, Skip repeatedly told the doctors and nurses that he had made a life-long commitment to his wife, and that the limited timetable they projected just was not enough. Despite his will to fight, Skip passed away due to complications related to the disease on January 5, 2014.

Skip was preceded in death by his parents Howard and Mary Brossard of Hayward Wisconsin and his son Howard "Chip" Brossard. Skip is survived by his wife, Eileen Brossard of Stone Lake, Wisconsin, his daughter Kimberly (Andrew) Myers of Washington, DC, his cousins Wendy (Pete) Sanders and Jan (Ken) Blaedel, his sister-in-law Kathleen (Richard) Dewing and nieces and nephes. A memorial service was held in his honor at Christ Lutheran Church, W5523 County Highway F,Lampson on Saturday, January 11 at 1 p.m. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. prior to the services on Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Northwoods Humane Society in Hayward, Wisconsin.