Myron Brunke

Myron G. “Shorty” Brunke, 85, of Berrien Springs, went to meet his Lord & Savior, Saturday, July 13, 2013 at Lakeland Continuing Care Center, St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 2:00 P.M. Thursday at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, 9193 Cleveland Ave., Baroda, with Rev. Brad Ross officiating. Burial will follow at Spring Run Cemetery in Scottdale, with military rites conducted by the North Berrien Military Rites Team. Friends may visit with the family from Noon until 2:00 P.M. Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church or Lakeland Continuing Care Center, St. Joseph. Those wishing to sign Shorty’s Memory Book online may do so at www.heritage-chapel.com. Shorty was born May 28, 1928 in Berrien Springs to Leroy & Bertha (Metzger) Brunke. He served his country in the US Army during World War II and the Korean War. Shorty was employed by the Berrien County Road Commission, retiring in 1989 as Supervisor after many years of employment. On October 20, 1990, he married the former Lorraine Ott Koebel in Baroda. Never having had children of his own, Shorty was an excellent father & grandfather to his new instant family. He was a member of St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Baroda, Baroda American Legion Post #345, & St. Joseph Kickers Club. Shorty enjoyed learning about new technology, playing handyman around the house, rooting for the Chicago Cubs, and spending winters in Lake Placid & Winter Haven, Florida. Shorty is survived by his wife Lorraine; his children-Carol (Ed) Adams of Berrien Springs, Rich (Nancy) Koebel of Baroda, Judy (Rich) Kubsch of Berrien Springs, Lori (Al Wesner) of Bridgman; daughter-in-law Diane Koebel of Baroda; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; his Godson Everette (Janet) Steinke of Sodus; his sister Arletta (Wally) Fritz of Alachua, FL; and numerous nieces & nephews & friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Johanna “Hanny” Brunke in 1988; his siblings-Alvin, Leona, Eleanor & Leon, and his son James L. Koebel in April 2013.