WASHINGTON…William E. “Bill” Brunk, 79, of Washington, passed away at 8:18 p.m., Saturday, October 2, 2010 in the emergency room at Skaggs Regional Medical Center in Branson, Missouri.
Bill was born on July 18, 1931 in Barberton, Ohio to Alan W. and Martha Mae Smith Brunk. He married H. Charlene Arrenholtz in the fall of 1966 in Bartonville. She died in Washington in May, 1975. Bill later married Jo Ann Henrich on October 15, 1982 in Bartonville. Jo Ann survives.
Also surviving are three daughters, Mary Michelle (Michael) Kammermeyer of San Ramon, CA, Sandra Louise Grafton of Bend, OR and Tammy Lynn (Robert) Hall of Delavan; one son, William Alan (Angie) Brunk of Washington; four step-daughters, Terri (John) Lindenmeier of Peoria, AZ, Diane (Scott) Hill of Bartonville, Lisa (Louie) Breymeier of Farmington and Christie (Charles) Leonard of Washington; two step-sons, Michael (Patricia) Ingram of Washburn and Randy (Debbie) Hyde of Washington; his mother-in-law, Frieda Henrich of Washington; 21 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Bill was also preceded in death by his parents and a son-in-law.
Bill was owner for many years of Brunk’s Sports Center in Washington, prior to his retirement a few years ago. Before owning the store in Washington, Bill had worked for the City of Washington and had been in charge of the maintenance of the streets, water and sewer lines, he also had worked for the Peoria Sanitary District, Galva Construction and Wiegand & Storrer Construction.
A veteran of the Korean War, Bill served in the U.S. Navy aboard the minesweeper’s USS Redstart and USS Constant in the Pacific. Following his discharge from the Navy, Bill attended Bradley University then went to work for A. W. Brunk Construction.
Bill had been a very involved member of the Walker Danforth VFW Post 9016 and Boy Scout Troop 163, both in Washington. He was also a 50 year plus member of Taylor Lodge #98 A.F. & A.M.
Two of his proudest accomplishments were his involvement in the creation of the Veteran’s Memorial located in Lincoln Park in Washington and the hosting of his ship’s reunion in 2009.
Bill was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Washington, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday with Pastor John Bates officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mason-White Funeral Home and on Thursday from 10 to 10:45 at the church. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Bartonville. Military graveside rites will be accorded by the U.S. Navy and the Tazewell Military Rites Team.
Memorials may be made VFW Post 9016 for the purchase of display case’s or to Washington Park District to purchase veteran’s bricks at the Veteran’s Memorial or his church.
Those serving as pallbearers will be Adam Erlandson, Nathan Brunk, Nicholas Brunk, Eric Ingram, Tom Avery and Nicholas Hill.