Obituary of Kenneth H. Bruner

Kenneth H. Bruner, 93, of Waukegan, IL, formerly of Cold Spring, MN, passed away April 20, 2018.

Kenneth was born April 11, 1925 in Eagle Valley, MN to George and Rose Bruner.  He was a World War II Veteran, having served with the United States Army from 1943-1946, earning the rank of Private First Class.  Ken married Dolores “Lorrie” Ressemann on June 14, 1948 in Richmond, MN; they would have been married 70 years this June.  Ken and Lorrie moved to Waukegan, IL in 1949.  Ken was employed with Abbott Laboratories from 1949-1956, and went to work at Fansteel in North Chicago, in 1956, as a Machinist for 10 years, a Forman for 18 years, retiring after 28 years of service.  Ken is an Honorary Life Member of the Knights of Columbus Waukegan Council 731, and Honorary Life Member of Bishop Quarter Assembly 197.  Ken joined the Knights of Columbus in 1955.  He was installed into the Fourth Degree in 1957.  Over the years, he served as Faithful Navigator, Worthy Marshall, Faithful Comptroller, Grand Knight, and was Commander for Bishop William Quarter Assembly 197.  In 2010, Ken was named Honorary Person for the Fourth Degree. He is also a lifetime member of the American Legion of Waukegan.  In 2015, Ken was a participant of the Lake County Honor Flight, in which he was very proud of and talked about many times.  Ken also participated in the Sixth Annual Lake County Veterans History Project that was held at the Lake County Courthouse in November, 2017.  Ken was interviewed by Assistant State’s Attorney, Fred Day, the transcripts of the interview were archived in the Library of Congress.  Ken’s story from that interview made the front page of the News Sun.  Ken was a parishioner of St. Dismas Church, for the past 37 years.

Ken is survived by his wife, Dolores; daughter, Cindy Kofler; son, Daniel (Kathy Ryan) Bruner; grandchildren, Jessica (Chad) Roberts, Erik (Rachel) Bruner, Jaime Bruner, Danielle Bruner, and step-grandchildren; great-grandchildren, Kyleigh Roberts, Mikayla Bruner, Elijah Brown, Amari Stackhouse, Brooklyn Bruner, Kennedy Bruner and step-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Aaron Eaton; three brother-in-laws; a sister-in-law and two nephews.  Due to Ken’s illness, he was unable to attend his sister, Marie Hesse’s funeral in Minnesota, she passed away on March 3, 2018, and he was very heartbroken that he was unable to make the trip.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 27, 2018 from 9-10 a.m., at St. Dismas Church, 2600 Sunset Ave, Waukegan, IL 60085, with a funeral service to follow.  Interment at Ascension Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, requesting donations be made to the Knights of Columbus Charitable Fund(s), by going on the website: https://www.kofc.org, or to St. Dismas Church.