Joseph Brunkan

JOSEPH BRUNKAN

Worthington

Joseph A. Brunkan, 85, of Worthington, died Thursday, April 23, 2015, at his home. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 26, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave. SW, in Dyersville, where a parish vigil service will be at 2 p.m. and an American Legion service held at 7 p.m. Friends may continue to call at the funeral home from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday, April 27, before funeral services. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Paul Catholic Church in Worthington, with burial in the church cemetery. The Rev. Dennis Quint will officiate and the Rev. Dan Knipper will concelebrate. Burial will be in St. Paul Cemetery, Worthington, where American Legion Post 137 will accord military honors.

Joe was born Aug. 18, 1929, in Worthington, Iowa, the son of Thomas and Kate (Dunkel) Brunkan. He attended Lebo Country School and St. Paul School in Worthington until the ninth grade. He served in Korea in the Army from 1951 to 1953. He married Rosalie Bockenstedt on Jan. 4, 1964, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Greeley. Together they farmed near Worthington, and Joe worked at the Ertl Co. for 30 years.

Joe enjoyed watching sports of all types, especially the Beckman Blazers and Iowa Hawkeyes. He also enjoyed tinkering around the farm, fixing equipment or making "art" with his welder, driving his tractor in parades in the area, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Rosie; three children, Ann (Mike) Wink of Marion, Tim (Jill) Brunkan of Eldridge and Jennifer (Jason Smith) Brunkan-Smith of Mission, Kan.; three grandchildren, Jayda, Calla and Georgia Brunkan; a sister, Catherine Steffen of New Vienna; and a sister-in-law, Janet (Robert) Brown of Colesburg.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Arnold Steffen.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.