Brunner, Stephen Edward

Stephen Edward Brunner, 62, of Cedar Rapids, passed away, surrounded by his loving family, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy on Sunday, May 8, 2011. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Jude Catholic Church, by the Rev. Mark Reasoner. Interment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. A vigil service will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, where friends may visit with the family from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and after 9 a.m. Thursday at the church.

Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Patricia; children, Bridget (Michael) Zuercher and Erica (Daniel) Hageman, both of Cedar Rapids, and Matthew (Amy) Brunner of Center Point; grandchildren, Brandon, Megan, Ryan, Caitlin, Peyton, Jackson, Ashten and Kaylee; sisters, Dawn Hamilton of Clearwater, Kan., and Diane (Mick) White of Kenosha, Wis.; and brother, Mark (BJ) Brunner of Vancouver, Wash.

He was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Clarice and Vance Larson; grandparents, Ray and Helen Olson; and his in-laws, Lloyd and Ruby Scheuermann.

Steve was born April 19, 1949, in La Crosse, Wis. He married Patricia Scheuermann in Frankfort, Germany on July 3, 1970. He was employed in the beverage industry for many years and later by Penford Products. Steve was a member of St. Jude Catholic Church, Cedar Valley Amateur Astronomy Club, Moose Lodge in Eau Claire, Wis., Izaak Walton League, and was an avid Packer fan. He enjoyed astronomy, rock collecting, air gun and gardening. He was a Scout merit badge counselor for astronomy. His grandchildren were his pride and joy.

Memorials will be directed to the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha and the University of Iowa Lung Transplant Program.

The family is very grateful to the staff at the Hospice House of Mercy and the University of Iowa Lung Transplant Program.

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