William Brunia, 84, of Woodlands Creek Retirement Center, Clive, leaned quietly into the arms of his Lord Jesus, surrounded by family, Friday, February 19, 2016 at Mercy West Lakes Hospital in West Des Moines. A Celebration of Life will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at McLaren's Chapel with burial at Masonic Cemetery in Des Moines.
Bill was born December 4, 1931 in Des Moines, IA to William Frans and Ena (Heemstra) Brunia. He attended school in Des Moines and finished his high school education in the United States Marine Corps. On June 7, 1951 he married his childhood sweetheart, Kathleen Amanda Roberts. After the USMC, he went to work for his parents in the electrical supply wholesaling business in 1952, and purchased Gem Cutters Supply, Brunia Fans, and Brunia Electric Supply from his parents in 1961. Bill and Kathleen operated Brunia Electric until his retirement in 1991. After retirement, he worked part-time for Hamilton's Funeral Home. He was a member of the Iowa Genealogical Society, Iowa Historical Society and First Church of the Open Bible. Bill loved his family and was known for his generosity to everyone.
Bill is survived by his daughters, Phyllis (Randy) Stackhouse of Fort Worth, TX and Julie (Jon) Thompson of Urbandale; son, William L. Brunia of Urbandale; seven grandchildren, Matthew (Kari) Ferring, David (Laura) Ferring, Troy (Laura) Ferring, Joy (Matthew) Esser, Jennifer Thompson, Jill (Sean) Chapin and Alexis Thompson; eleven great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; ten step great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Erma Brunia of Sacramento, CA, Kay (Gene) Thelen of Marshalltown and Linda (Dan) Smith of Prescott Valley, AZ; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his bride of 60 years, Kathleen Amanda Brunia; daughter, Ena Marie Brunia; sisters, Alice Proudfit and Catherine Maurer; and brothers, Frank, Marion (Gus), Ray and Nathan Brunia.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at McLaren's Chapel. Memorial contributions may be directed to Silvercrest at Woodlands Creek in Clive or Mercy West Lakes Hospital.
Bill was born December 4, 1931 in Des Moines, IA to William Frans and Ena (Heemstra) Brunia. He attended school in Des Moines and finished his high school education in the United States Marine Corps. On June 7, 1951 he married his childhood sweetheart, Kathleen Amanda Roberts. After the USMC, he went to work for his parents in the electrical supply wholesaling business in 1952, and purchased Gem Cutters Supply, Brunia Fans, and Brunia Electric Supply from his parents in 1961. Bill and Kathleen operated Brunia Electric until his retirement in 1991. After retirement, he worked part-time for Hamilton's Funeral Home. He was a member of the Iowa Genealogical Society, Iowa Historical Society and First Church of the Open Bible. Bill loved his family and was known for his generosity to everyone.
Bill is survived by his daughters, Phyllis (Randy) Stackhouse of Fort Worth, TX and Julie (Jon) Thompson of Urbandale; son, William L. Brunia of Urbandale; seven grandchildren, Matthew (Kari) Ferring, David (Laura) Ferring, Troy (Laura) Ferring, Joy (Matthew) Esser, Jennifer Thompson, Jill (Sean) Chapin and Alexis Thompson; eleven great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; ten step great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Erma Brunia of Sacramento, CA, Kay (Gene) Thelen of Marshalltown and Linda (Dan) Smith of Prescott Valley, AZ; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his bride of 60 years, Kathleen Amanda Brunia; daughter, Ena Marie Brunia; sisters, Alice Proudfit and Catherine Maurer; and brothers, Frank, Marion (Gus), Ray and Nathan Brunia.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at McLaren's Chapel. Memorial contributions may be directed to Silvercrest at Woodlands Creek in Clive or Mercy West Lakes Hospital.
William Brunia, 84, of Woodlands Creek Retirement Center, Clive, leaned quietly into the arms of his Lord Jesus, surrounded by family, Friday, February 19, 2016 at Mercy West Lakes Hospital in West Des Moines. A Celebration of Life will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at McLaren's Chapel with burial at Masonic Cemetery in Des Moines.
Bill was born December 4, 1931 in Des Moines, IA to William Frans and Ena (Heemstra) Brunia. He attended school in Des Moines and finished his high school education in the United States Marine Corps. On June 7, 1951 he married his childhood sweetheart, Kathleen Amanda Roberts. After the USMC, he went to work for his parents in the electrical supply wholesaling business in 1952, and purchased Gem Cutters Supply, Brunia Fans, and Brunia Electric Supply from his parents in 1961. Bill and Kathleen operated Brunia Electric until his retirement in 1991. After retirement, he worked part-time for Hamilton's Funeral Home. He was a member of the Iowa Genealogical Society, Iowa Historical Society and First Church of the Open Bible. Bill loved his family and was known for his generosity to everyone.
Bill is survived by his daughters, Phyllis (Randy) Stackhouse of Fort Worth, TX and Julie (Jon) Thompson of Urbandale; son, William L. Brunia of Urbandale; seven grandchildren, Matthew (Kari) Ferring, David (Laura) Ferring, Troy (Laura) Ferring, Joy (Matthew) Esser, Jennifer Thompson, Jill (Sean) Chapin and Alexis Thompson; eleven great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; ten step great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Erma Brunia of Sacramento, CA, Kay (Gene) Thelen of Marshalltown and Linda (Dan) Smith of Prescott Valley, AZ; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his bride of 60 years, Kathleen Amanda Brunia; daughter, Ena Marie Brunia; sisters, Alice Proudfit and Catherine Maurer; and brothers, Frank, Marion (Gus), Ray and Nathan Brunia.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at McLaren's Chapel. Memorial contributions may be directed to Silvercrest at Woodlands Creek in Clive or Mercy West Lakes Hospital.
Bill was born December 4, 1931 in Des Moines, IA to William Frans and Ena (Heemstra) Brunia. He attended school in Des Moines and finished his high school education in the United States Marine Corps. On June 7, 1951 he married his childhood sweetheart, Kathleen Amanda Roberts. After the USMC, he went to work for his parents in the electrical supply wholesaling business in 1952, and purchased Gem Cutters Supply, Brunia Fans, and Brunia Electric Supply from his parents in 1961. Bill and Kathleen operated Brunia Electric until his retirement in 1991. After retirement, he worked part-time for Hamilton's Funeral Home. He was a member of the Iowa Genealogical Society, Iowa Historical Society and First Church of the Open Bible. Bill loved his family and was known for his generosity to everyone.
Bill is survived by his daughters, Phyllis (Randy) Stackhouse of Fort Worth, TX and Julie (Jon) Thompson of Urbandale; son, William L. Brunia of Urbandale; seven grandchildren, Matthew (Kari) Ferring, David (Laura) Ferring, Troy (Laura) Ferring, Joy (Matthew) Esser, Jennifer Thompson, Jill (Sean) Chapin and Alexis Thompson; eleven great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; ten step great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Erma Brunia of Sacramento, CA, Kay (Gene) Thelen of Marshalltown and Linda (Dan) Smith of Prescott Valley, AZ; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his bride of 60 years, Kathleen Amanda Brunia; daughter, Ena Marie Brunia; sisters, Alice Proudfit and Catherine Maurer; and brothers, Frank, Marion (Gus), Ray and Nathan Brunia.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at McLaren's Chapel. Memorial contributions may be directed to Silvercrest at Woodlands Creek in Clive or Mercy West Lakes Hospital.
