Bill Brodie Halbert, aged 96, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by loved ones in Holland, MI, on August 4th, 2025.
He was born May 9, 1929, in New Castle, Wyoming, to his mother, Avis Evelyn Brodie Halbert, and father, Dean Woodside Halbert.
He had 3 brothers: Bud (Era) Halbert, Jack (Donna) Halbert, and Dean (Sonia) Halbert, and one sister, Deana Halbert Nelson Tesch, who was married to Al Tesch, founder of Tonka Toys.
Bill’s mother passed away when Bill was 5 years old in Oklahoma. Bill’s dad was working in Canada, making a living after Avis passed away, when Dean picked up his children Deana, Bud, and Bill and moved up to Canada, where Dean married Doris Stevenson and the family grew in 1967 with the birth of 2 more boys, Jack Ross Halbert and Dean Harley Halbert. Bill eventually ended back in the USA, served in the US Army from 1951 to 1953, and enrolled in a radio school in Minneapolis, where he met his first wife, Clara Mae Tillman. They had 5 children: Steven, Jonathan, Buddy, Rebecca, and Roberta Halbert.
Bill later married Lynn Marie Brown from Jenison, MI, in 1965, where she had twin boys, born in 1965, Richard David Halbert and Billy Dean Halbert; unfortunately, Billy was stillborn.
Bill loved to create and do the best job he could in everything he did, whether it was work or play. He became a radio announcer for KOJM in Havre, Montana, in 1959, where he interviewed all sorts of entertainers like Johnny Cash and Pat Boone.
He later moved to Holland, Michigan, where he worked for WJBL and The Sound of Beautiful Music from 1960 through 1971, then went to work in radio sales at WGHN in Grand Haven, MI. He was known to be an outstanding salesman in his field and blessed the area of Greater Grand Haven with his beautiful voice and creative mind.
He began a few businesses on the way, starting Heritage Antique Shop in Grand Haven, Heritage Roofing, and Gusher Car Wash, and even found time to join his brother in Houston, Texas, to help his brother Bud at the Omega Health Club for a year and a half.
He opened his most known business, ‘The Gusher Rapid Oil Change,’ in Holland, where he maintained 36 years of successful business. Rusher to the Gusher!
He loved life and truly took advantage of each of the 96 years he had on this earth, loving both indoor and outdoor sports such as golfing and bowling, and joining with the AMBUCS for 20 years. Bill loved guitar and loved singing karaoke with his family.
He loved traveling with his family and was a natural at committing to anything he put his mind to; he was a man of determination and someone who truly took each day with one step in front of the other. The world can be comforted by the fact he is reunited with his greatly missed departed family in the arms of God in Heaven. Praise God!
Bill is survived by his children: Steven and Gerri Halbert in South Carolina, Jon Halbert in Minnesota, Buddy Halbert in Michigan, Rebecca Kramer (Kirt Wildhirt) in Minnesota, Sally Ford and Mark in Washington State, and Roberta and Brad Nelson in Hamilton, MI.
Along with 22 grandchildren and 45 great-grandchildren. Along with countless amounts of friends he made along his long journey of life.
And at the very end, Bill had a wonderful care team with Hospice; comfort keepers, personal caregivers, and the VA, along with his large family.
A visitation will be held at Dykstra Funeral Home – Mulder Chapel, 188 32nd St, Holland, MI 49423, on Monday, August 18th, from 10am to 1pm.
A memorial service will be held at Dykstra Funeral Home – Mulder Chapel, 188 32nd St, Holland, MI 49423 on Monday, August 18th, at 1pm, with a procession to Pilgrim Home Cemetery immediately following.
The family asks that memorial contributions be made in Marian’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association – Michigan Great Lakes chapter and Gentiva Hospice.
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