John Brunke died Monday, November 4, in Maumee, OH.
John was born April 5, 1925, in Toledo, Ohio to Gustave and Gertrude (Kahlenberg) Brunke. He grew up on Toledo's East Side and attended Waite High School. John was a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII with the 28th Photo Recon Squadron. He flew many types of airplanes, but his favorite was the P38 Lightning. After returning from the war, he majored in mechanical engineering at The University of Toledo.
John married Dorothy Gilley in 1948, and she preceded him in death in 1993. John became a homebuilder and was vice-president of Meyer & Mohn and then later, president of John D. Brunke Builders, Inc. He took great pride in his work and built many premier homes in the Toledo area, as well as larger projects, such as the Showcase Cinema I and II complex, the first local Olive Garden, Lum's restaurants, and a large government project in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
John believed in living life to the fullest and did so with a passion. Among the many things he enjoyed were traveling, sports fishing, archery, hunting, and playing bridge. He was a fiercely competitive bridge player throughout his life and once played with renowned bridge champion, Charles Goren. He was also an accomplished archer winning many awards and was a past president of both Mudjaw Bowmen and Adams Conservation Club. John loved Oak Openings Park and walked or rode his horses through most of its many acres at one time or another over the years. He built a home next to the park after his wife, Dorothy, died and enjoyed watching the deer and other wildlife that frequented his property. He enjoyed the horses that he and one of his daughters shared. Eventually, they had to give the horses a home at O.A.T.S. - a therapeutic horseback riding center in Clarkston, MI. He ate breakfast almost every day at the Charlie's Restaurant on Airport Highway near his home, enjoying the camaraderie with the staff and other regular patrons. It was his version of "Cheers" - where everyone knows your name. John enjoyed many sports fishing trips in places like Key West, Cabo San Lucas, Venezuela, Panama, and Alaska. He remained active throughout life and enjoyed Friday evenings at The Maumee Elks.
John was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, and sister, Betty Marie Mohler.
He is survived by his daughters, a brother and daughter-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as numerous other family members.
This is used with permission of one of his daughters. The family wrote the full obituary, which was published in Toledo Blade on Nov. 6, 2013
John was born April 5, 1925, in Toledo, Ohio to Gustave and Gertrude (Kahlenberg) Brunke. He grew up on Toledo's East Side and attended Waite High School. John was a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII with the 28th Photo Recon Squadron. He flew many types of airplanes, but his favorite was the P38 Lightning. After returning from the war, he majored in mechanical engineering at The University of Toledo.
John married Dorothy Gilley in 1948, and she preceded him in death in 1993. John became a homebuilder and was vice-president of Meyer & Mohn and then later, president of John D. Brunke Builders, Inc. He took great pride in his work and built many premier homes in the Toledo area, as well as larger projects, such as the Showcase Cinema I and II complex, the first local Olive Garden, Lum's restaurants, and a large government project in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
John believed in living life to the fullest and did so with a passion. Among the many things he enjoyed were traveling, sports fishing, archery, hunting, and playing bridge. He was a fiercely competitive bridge player throughout his life and once played with renowned bridge champion, Charles Goren. He was also an accomplished archer winning many awards and was a past president of both Mudjaw Bowmen and Adams Conservation Club. John loved Oak Openings Park and walked or rode his horses through most of its many acres at one time or another over the years. He built a home next to the park after his wife, Dorothy, died and enjoyed watching the deer and other wildlife that frequented his property. He enjoyed the horses that he and one of his daughters shared. Eventually, they had to give the horses a home at O.A.T.S. - a therapeutic horseback riding center in Clarkston, MI. He ate breakfast almost every day at the Charlie's Restaurant on Airport Highway near his home, enjoying the camaraderie with the staff and other regular patrons. It was his version of "Cheers" - where everyone knows your name. John enjoyed many sports fishing trips in places like Key West, Cabo San Lucas, Venezuela, Panama, and Alaska. He remained active throughout life and enjoyed Friday evenings at The Maumee Elks.
John was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, and sister, Betty Marie Mohler.
He is survived by his daughters, a brother and daughter-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as numerous other family members.
This is used with permission of one of his daughters. The family wrote the full obituary, which was published in Toledo Blade on Nov. 6, 2013
John Brunke died Monday, November 4, in Maumee, OH.
John was born April 5, 1925, in Toledo, Ohio to Gustave and Gertrude (Kahlenberg) Brunke. He grew up on Toledo's East Side and attended Waite High School. John was a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII with the 28th Photo Recon Squadron. He flew many types of airplanes, but his favorite was the P38 Lightning. After returning from the war, he majored in mechanical engineering at The University of Toledo.
John married Dorothy Gilley in 1948, and she preceded him in death in 1993. John became a homebuilder and was vice-president of Meyer & Mohn and then later, president of John D. Brunke Builders, Inc. He took great pride in his work and built many premier homes in the Toledo area, as well as larger projects, such as the Showcase Cinema I and II complex, the first local Olive Garden, Lum's restaurants, and a large government project in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
John believed in living life to the fullest and did so with a passion. Among the many things he enjoyed were traveling, sports fishing, archery, hunting, and playing bridge. He was a fiercely competitive bridge player throughout his life and once played with renowned bridge champion, Charles Goren. He was also an accomplished archer winning many awards and was a past president of both Mudjaw Bowmen and Adams Conservation Club. John loved Oak Openings Park and walked or rode his horses through most of its many acres at one time or another over the years. He built a home next to the park after his wife, Dorothy, died and enjoyed watching the deer and other wildlife that frequented his property. He enjoyed the horses that he and one of his daughters shared. Eventually, they had to give the horses a home at O.A.T.S. - a therapeutic horseback riding center in Clarkston, MI. He ate breakfast almost every day at the Charlie's Restaurant on Airport Highway near his home, enjoying the camaraderie with the staff and other regular patrons. It was his version of "Cheers" - where everyone knows your name. John enjoyed many sports fishing trips in places like Key West, Cabo San Lucas, Venezuela, Panama, and Alaska. He remained active throughout life and enjoyed Friday evenings at The Maumee Elks.
John was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, and sister, Betty Marie Mohler.
He is survived by his daughters, a brother and daughter-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as numerous other family members.
This is used with permission of one of his daughters. The family wrote the full obituary, which was published in Toledo Blade on Nov. 6, 2013
John was born April 5, 1925, in Toledo, Ohio to Gustave and Gertrude (Kahlenberg) Brunke. He grew up on Toledo's East Side and attended Waite High School. John was a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII with the 28th Photo Recon Squadron. He flew many types of airplanes, but his favorite was the P38 Lightning. After returning from the war, he majored in mechanical engineering at The University of Toledo.
John married Dorothy Gilley in 1948, and she preceded him in death in 1993. John became a homebuilder and was vice-president of Meyer & Mohn and then later, president of John D. Brunke Builders, Inc. He took great pride in his work and built many premier homes in the Toledo area, as well as larger projects, such as the Showcase Cinema I and II complex, the first local Olive Garden, Lum's restaurants, and a large government project in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
John believed in living life to the fullest and did so with a passion. Among the many things he enjoyed were traveling, sports fishing, archery, hunting, and playing bridge. He was a fiercely competitive bridge player throughout his life and once played with renowned bridge champion, Charles Goren. He was also an accomplished archer winning many awards and was a past president of both Mudjaw Bowmen and Adams Conservation Club. John loved Oak Openings Park and walked or rode his horses through most of its many acres at one time or another over the years. He built a home next to the park after his wife, Dorothy, died and enjoyed watching the deer and other wildlife that frequented his property. He enjoyed the horses that he and one of his daughters shared. Eventually, they had to give the horses a home at O.A.T.S. - a therapeutic horseback riding center in Clarkston, MI. He ate breakfast almost every day at the Charlie's Restaurant on Airport Highway near his home, enjoying the camaraderie with the staff and other regular patrons. It was his version of "Cheers" - where everyone knows your name. John enjoyed many sports fishing trips in places like Key West, Cabo San Lucas, Venezuela, Panama, and Alaska. He remained active throughout life and enjoyed Friday evenings at The Maumee Elks.
John was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, and sister, Betty Marie Mohler.
He is survived by his daughters, a brother and daughter-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as numerous other family members.
This is used with permission of one of his daughters. The family wrote the full obituary, which was published in Toledo Blade on Nov. 6, 2013
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