Rev. Dr. James Bronwell

GRAFTON / SUTTON - The Reverend Doctor James Arthur Bronwell, 73, of Grafton, Massachusetts, passed away Friday, August 31st, from complications related to Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

Jim’s was a family created by an unbounded love.  He is survived by his wife, Laura E. Bronwell (nee Bredeson), his children; Robert L. Bronwell and his wife Rebekka Bronwell; Julianne D. Thompson and her husband David Thompson; Jennifer D. MacNeil and her husband Luke MacNeil; Marilyn E. Mellen; David S. Crawford and his wife Karen Crawford; and his grandchildren; Maegan and Robert Bronwell; Jordyn, Robert, Abigail and Sadie Thompson; Jarred, Spencer, and Samantha Mellen; Jillian and Allison Crawford; and his cats.  He was predeceased by his parents Arthur B. Bronwell and Virginia W. Bronwell, and his sister Susan V. Carter.

A graduate of Cornell University, Union Theological Seminary, and Andover Newton Theological School, Jim was a fascinating and multi-faceted man, wide-ranging in his passions and interests.  Foremost, he was a Christian minister, serving churches in Connecticut and Massachusetts his entire career.  He never imagined himself doing anything else, and he was uniquely suited to the role.  Creative worship was his passion.  He was also involved in community theater for more than 40 years, leading in a variety of roles, both dramatic and musical.  He was a film maker and collector, he loved and played folk music most of his life, and his creative genius enabled him to meld all of these interests into an integrated whole.

Jim loved to travel and began taking his children traveling at a young age.  When it came to vacationing, though, his heart was at Squam Lake in New Hampshire - where his father had built a summer cottage when Jim was a child.  He loved nothing more than taking his friends and family on moonlight cruises in his classic wooden boat.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at the First Congregational Church of Sutton, 307 Boston Rd. in Sutton, MA, on Thursday, September 6th at 11:00am   Family and friends are asked to wear cool and colorful clothing.  A lunch reception will be held at the church following the service.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mass General Movement Disorder Unit, Lewy Body Fund, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA 02114, https://www.massgeneral.org/neurology/support