Terry Ray Brunner

Terry Ray Brunner, 78, of Columbia City, died peacefully at 5:40 a.m. Saturday, July 31, 2021, at Miller’s at Oak Pointe, Columbia City, where he had been a resident since March.

He was born May 17, 1943, in Kosciusko County, a son of the late Frederick Ernest Brunner and Rose Louise (Hamlett) Brunner. Growing up in the Larwill area, he graduated from Larwill High School in 1961.

On Dec. 24, 1969, he married Nancy S. Redman. They made their home in Columbia City.

For over 37 years, Terry worked for Dana Corporation, Fort Wayne.

His memberships included the Masonic Due Guard Lodge #278, Larwill, the Scottish Rite, and the Mizpah Shrine. He was a long-time member of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Columbia City.

An avid fisherman, he fished the area lakes and made annual fishing trips with his buddies. He liked winemaking under the tutelage of his late uncle-in-law, Paul Redman, making prize-winning wines. In his retirement years, he earned the title of “Supervisor” as he would pull up a chair to watch the neighborhood improvement projects, offering his unsolicited advice.

Surviving are his wife Nancy; children: Todd A. (Sandy Heyse) Brunner of Silver Springs, Fla.; and Shannon (Rottman) Brunner of Columbia City; step-children, Kevin Richey of South Whitley and Donielle (Kyle) Parnell of Fort Wayne; grandchildren, Natasha Brunner of Warsaw; Alicia (Randy) Fletcher of Fort Wayne; and great-grandchildren, Brayden and Braelyn.

Additionally, he was preceded in death by a brother Frederick Lynn Brunner.

The funeral service is 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial is at the Lake View Cemetery, Larwill. Visitation is 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with a Masonic Service at 8 p.m.

Preferred memorials are to Shriner’s Hospitals for Children or Heartland Hospice.