Lee D. Brunt
Lee D. Brunt 77, of Oskaloosa, died March 8, 2012 at Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Des Moines. He was born February 24, 1935 at Oskaloosa, the son of Louis D. and Dorothy Bequeaith Brunt. They moved to Long Beach, California, and Lee attended Southern California Military School and Jordan High School, graduating in 1952. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the11th and 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper and safely completed 56 jumps during four years of service during the Korean War. Following his discharge from the Army, he served in the California National Guard. Lee worked at the Long Beach Federal Bank, and later at J.C.Penney. He was married in 1958, and divorced in 1967, and to this union was born a daughter and a son. In 1971, Lee and the kids moved back to Oskaloosa and he worked at Clow Corp and later for the Oskaloosa Community School District for 19 years. On August 27, 1977, Lee was united in marriage to Esther Wheeling. He was a member of the Iowa National Guard then the U.S.Army Reserves, before retiring with 29 years of full military service. He was a long time member of the Rollin Oldies Car Club, and enjoyed traveling in his 1956 Oldsmobile, 1949 Studebaker, and 1970 Chevy pickup.
His family includes his loving wife of 34 years, Esther Brunt of Oskaloosa; his daughter: Sherry Brunt of Oskaloosa and her son, Shaun Brunt and his three daughters: McCheala Blommers Brunt, Ashton Brunt, and Maysen Brunt; Lee’s son, Christopher (Ardith) Brunt of Horace, North Dakota; and Ardith’s children: Sherri (Bryan) Hoy, and their three children, Connor, Sophia, and Carson Hoy; Ardith’s son: Corey (Kirra) Westra and their two children, Eli and Emree Westra; also surviving is his mother, Dorothy Brunt of Oskaloosa. Additional survivors include Esther’s daughters: Charlene Ryan of Oskaloosa and Christine (Jerry) Slobe of Oskaloosa, and their children: Tara (David) Amundson, and Brandon Slobe. Also a sister, Jill (Dan) Krusemark of Oskaloosa; and a brother, Craig (Norrie) Brunt of Orange, California; a brother in law: Jim Romine of Center Point, Iowa; and a sister in law: Donna Romine of San Luis Obispo, California.
Lee was preceded in death by his father, and two nieces, a nephew, a sister in law: Arametta Romine, and a brother in law, Richard Romine.
Funeral services will be held Monday, March 12, 2012, at 2 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa, with Pastor Alvern Boetsma officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery at Oskaloosa with graveside military rites given by members of the Oskaloosa American Legion, D.A.V., and V.F.W. Visitation will begin at the Bates Funeral Chapel on Sunday after 11 a.m., with the family present Sunday 1 – 3 p.m. to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be directed to the Mahaska Hospice Serenity House.
