Obituary

Ralph Harold Brunner, 83, of Emporia, died on Monday (June 14, 2010) at his home in Emporia. He was born on Aug. 14, 1926, in Newton to Clarence Brunner and Rosalee DuPuis.

Ralph served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1947 aboard the USS Dunlap in the Pacific.
He married Evelyn Ruth Janzen on Oct. 17, 1946, in Sacramento, Calif. He was an engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad for 29 years. He came to Emporia from Newton in 1947.
He was a member of West Side Baptist Church in Emporia, lifetime member of American Legion Ball-McColm Post No. 5, VFW Lowry-Funston Post 1980, Tin Can Sailors and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Ruth Brunner, of the home; son, Rick Brunner of Emporia; daughter, Pamela S. Brunner of Emporia; brother, Richard Brunner of Calif.; and one grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Melvin, Waldo, and Orville Brunner; and two sisters, Julia Klassen and Mary Margaret Wyman.

Visitation will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Charter Funerals in Emporia. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at West Side Baptist Church, 2200 Prairie St. in Emporia, with Pastor Kenneth Armstrong officiating. There will be an additional service at 2 p.m. Friday at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton. Interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton, with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Westside Baptist Church or H. Dale Buck Fund, in care of Charter Funerals, 501 W. Sixth Ave., Emporia.