Obit: Brunker, Jean Marie (1928 - 2022)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Brunker, Billmyre, Zahner, Reineking, Hemmer, Richard, Will, Hennes

----Source: Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home (Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI) 7/07/2022

Brunker, Jean Marie (3 April 1928 – 7 July 2022)

Jean Marie (Zahner) Brunker, age 94, of Colby, passed away on Thursday July 7, 2022, surrounded by her loving family.

Jean was born in Cornell, to Gene and Viva (Billmyre) Zahner on April 3, 1928. She attended grade and high school in Cornell, graduating in May 1946. She furthered her education attending Stevens Point Teacher’s College where she met her husband, Leland Brunker. They were married on August 20, 1949. He preceded her in death in 1993.

Together they lived in Almond, until 1952 when they moved to Colby. Jean was active in St. Mary Church with responsibilities in PTA, Christian Mothers and served for years as Youth Chairman. She also subbed at St. Mary School as well as Colby Junior and Senior High School for many years. The last several years she had been volunteering at the grade school in Colby as well as working in the STEP Program.

Jean was very proud of her children who survive, Mary Lee (Gene) Reineking, Nancy (Paul) Hemmer, Ellen (Jim) Rickard, and William (Julie) Brunker. She is further survived by her three grandchildren: Trenton Brunker, Jody (Kevin) Will, Aaron Reineking; her two great-grandchildren: Keltie and Kinsley Will. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her grandson, Jason Hemmer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Parish in Colby on Thursday, July 14, 2022. Father Jeff Hennes will officiate. Interment to follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery. Family and friends are welcome on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until time of service at the church. Live stream will be available for those unable to attend on the Maurina Schilling Funeral Home Facebook page or after the service anytime on Facebook or the website. The Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford is entrusted with the arrangements.

A special thank you is extended to the wonderful friends and neighbors who helped support Jean’s wish to remain in her home, as well as to the caring and supportive staff in the Palliative Care Unit of Marshfield Hospital.

The family requests Memorials to Colby Community Library.