Larry Edwin Braak passed away at Green Acres of Allendale on May 1, 2023. He was born on February 12, 1937 in Spring Lake, MI to Arnold and Louise Braak and graduated from Grand Haven High School in 1955.

Larry married his college sweetheart, Nancy, on June 6, 1959, the day before they graduated from Alma College, so they would graduate with the same last name. While attending medical school at the University of Michigan, Nancy stayed home raising their children while Larry earned an income through wedding photography. Following medical school, Larry served as a Flight Surgeon in the Air Force for two years. He and Nancy then moved with their three children to San Luis, Colorado, where he was the Medical Director at a mission clinic run by the Presbyterian church. The family lived in a house purchased by the Presbyterian church with Betty Crocker coupons. It was there that they added to their family by adopting a daughter.

In 1970, the family moved to Marquette, Michigan where Larry was a Campus Physician at Northern Michigan University. He then worked in family practice. In subsequent years, he was an interim physician for the Marquette Branch Prison where he showed dignity to inmates. He also worked as the Medical Director of the Substance Abuse unit at the local hospital.

In midlife, he returned to school and studied Psychiatry at Michigan State University. He went on to practice in West Michigan which included working with the elderly in nursing homes and with the homeless of Heartside Ministries. He retired in 2000. Following Nancy's death from cancer, Larry married Marion Palmer. Marion and her late husband, Sandy, were friends of Larry and Nancy dating back to medical school days.

His passion for photography was ignited at a young age, and was further nurtured while abroad in Pakistan as an exchange student. He and Nancy shared a common passion for the 'family of humankind.' Together, they traveled to developing nations, and Larry was always hopeful that his photographs could help bring about greater understanding among the peoples of the world due to the universal beauty he could capture in each human life.

Larry's Christian faith was expressed in all he did, whether through his work, his photography or through the relationships he built. In recent years, he has belonged to North Presbyterian Church in Kalamazoo, First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo and First Presbyterian Church in Grand Haven. Most recently, he has expressed his faith in his relationships with the staff and fellow residents at Green Acres.

Family is grateful for the loving care provided by the staff at Green Acres of Allendale and Faith Hospice.

Larry is survived by his brother Richard (Sherry) Braak; sister Mary (Casey) Nash; son David (Cindy) Braak; son Tom (Ficilta) Braak; daughter Kara (Richard) Witham; daughter Susan Portillos; grandchildren: Danielle (Steve) Brondsema; John (Ashley) Brondsema; Rachel (Nate) McCarl; Hannah (David) Pellerito; Jesse Witham; Solana Witham; Micah Witham; Ryan Braak; greatgrandchildren: Elijah Brondsema, Penelope Brondsema, Roman Brondsema, Isaac Moon, James McCarl, and Judah Pellerito; wife: Marion Palmer; step-children: Kenneth Palmer, Jonathan (Kate) Thomas-Palmer, Christopher (Carrie) Palmer, and James Palmer; step-grandchildren: Landon Palmer, Evan Palmer, Geneve Thomas-Palmer, Ryan Thomas-Palmer, Alison Palmer, Anna Palmer, and Graham Palmer; and numerous extended family members. Larry was preceded in death by his wife Nancy Hopson Braak of Harbor Beach; his father Arnold Braak; his mother Louise Braak Streeting; his step-father Ray Streeting; and his brother Charles "Chuck" Braak.

A memorial service for Larry will be held on Saturday, May 6th, at 11:00 am at Grand Haven Presbyterian Church (508 Franklin Ave, Grand Haven, MI 49417) with Rev. Kristine Aragon Bruce officiating. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. The service will be livestreamed on the First Presbyterian Church of Grand Haven Facebook page.

To express condolences to the family, please visit MLive.com obituaries. Memorial contributions may be given to Bethesda Farm of Allendale via Venmo: @bethesdafarm or mailed to Bethesda Farm, 12085 60th Ave, Allendale, MI 49401.