Obituary: Robert L. Bruner
KS_Newton -- Robert L. Bruner passed away on Feb. 10,
2013.
Bob was a 33-year resident of Colorado Springs. He was born
in Florence, Kansas, on Oct. 20, 1923, to Evelyn Miller Bruner and Frank
Lathrop Bruner Jr., and raised in Newton, Kansas. In 1942, he enlisted in the
Navy V5 program, was activated in the Marine Air Corps as a pilot in June of
1944, released from active duty in 1946 and was honorably discharged as a
captain in the United States Marine Corps in 1952.
After the war, he returned to Newton and began work at the
First National Bank, where he retired as a vice president. Bob served as the
quarter master of VFW Post 971. He was the secretary-treasurer of the Newton
Country Club, and he served on the board of directors for the First National
Bank, the Newton Country Club and Bethel Deaconess Hospital.
During his first 10 years in Colorado Springs, he and his
wife owned a small business at the Citadel Mall. Bob enjoyed the outdoors,
which included hiking and fishing in the Colorado Rockies. He was a scratch
golfer from a young age in Newton throughout his final playing days at the
Colorado Springs Country Club. Bob also spent many enjoyable hours in his
woodworking shop.
Bob is survived by his wife of 69 years, Theress McCann
Bruner; two daughters, Robin Bruner Hudson and Barbara Bruner Johnson; and
son-in-law, Jerry Johnson.
Bob will be fondly remembered by his grandchildren, Karla
Rice Barnhill (Joe), Anderson Rice, Ryan Murphy, Rebecca Brown Ball (Donovan),
Robert Bruner Johnson (Heather), and Scott Johnson (Katie); and 11
great-grandchildren, Robert Bruner Johnson Jr., Hadley and Shea Johnson,
Brayden and Cole Johnson, Ashley and Maddie Piccillo, Keeghan Ball, Eli Rice,
and Aaron and Owen Barnhill; nephew and niece, Steve Murphree (Sandy) and Lynn
Murphree Eldridge who grew up next door; other nephew and nieces, David Dotson,
Jane Ciabattari and Denise Low-Weso; and friend of the family, Upton Hudson.
Bob was preceded in death by his daughters, Diana Bruner
Brown and Dorothy Kay Bruner.
