Diane E. Brady

Diane Elizabeth Brady, 72, of Cedar Springs, Mich., passed away Tuesday, June 24 from injuries sustained in an auto accident in Rockford, Mich. She was a retired non-profit health services executive followed by her second career where she was a key member of Michigan State University Extension’s Consumer Horticulture Team.

Diane was born to Lela Belle and George Brady, on Jan. 26, 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, where she graduated from high school.

She graduated from Michigan State University in 1975. In 1998 she earned an MBA in finance from Grand Valley State University. In her working life Diane consistently sought positions in which she could help people, including working as a researcher for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians helping to document ancestry needed to title property. She also worked for the Salvation Army, where she was director of planned giving. She served as Chief Operating Officer for Planned Parenthood Centers of West Michigan for 20 years before she retired in 2010. In 2003 she earned MSU extension advanced master gardener certification and began her volunteer service.  She joined the Michigan State University Extension Consumer Horticulture team in 2012 and was currently employed as the Horticulture and Events Account Manager for West Michigan.  To quote her employer, “Diane’s impact was wide reaching, and her absence will be deeply felt in our office and in the greater MSU Extension community. Any coworker surely knew of her attention to detail and commitment to her work, but all who knew Diane undoubtedly recall her kindness, wit, contagious enthusiasm, joyful laughter, and love of coffee and red wine.”

One of Diane’s greatest joys was sharing her horticultural knowledge and experience with others. She loved to cook for family and friends and especially enjoyed creating healthy culinary experiences using produce from her garden. She will be sorely missed by everyone who benefitted from her outgoing, cheerful, thoughtful and helpful regard for others, including those she mentored in their personal and professional lives.

She is survived by her husband, Rod Sager; identical twin sister, Denise, (husband Tom) Schroeder, of Laingsburg, Mich.; nephew Tom Schroeder Jr., Haslett, Mich.; and niece Anna Schroeder, East Lansing, Mich. Her brother, George Brady Jr., preceded her in death.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 19th from 5:00pm to 7:30pm in Diane’s Gardens, if you would like to attend, please send an email to: DianesMemorial@icloud.com and we will respond with an invite.

If you would like to donate, please choose one of Diane’s favorite organizations:

To Planned Parenthood of Michigan by clicking on this link here

And/or send a check to:

Michigan State University
Michigan State University Extension c/o Diane Brady memorial
775 Ball NE, Grand Rapids, MI  49503

(Please include your name, address, e-mail contact and phone number in the envelope)

Arrangements by K.E. Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs.