Richard W. Brunkow Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

A Funeral Service for Richard was held on Monday, December 3, 2018, at 10:30 a.m., at the Milligan Auditorium in Milligan, Nebraska, with Kim Dunker officiating the service. During the funeral service for Richard there was recorded music played as the family entered for the funeral by the Milligan Czech Brass Band, after the reading of the obituary, the family and congregation enjoyed a song sung by Randy Travis, “In The Garden”, and as the funeral concluded they heard music played by the Accordionettes as they exited. Pallbearers included Jaron Schweitzer, Keith Brunkow, Chris Smith, Bryce Schwanke, Brandon Pohemus and Jarrod Brunkow. Honorary pallbearers were Gene Synovec, Robert Kassik and James Synovec. Graveside Services were conducted following the funeral service in the Bohemian National Cemetery in Milligan, Nebraska. In Lieu of Flowers- Memorials were directed to the family for a later designation in memory of Richard. Farmer & Son Funeral Home was in charge of funeral arrangements. Richard Wayne Brunkow, the fourth child of Arthur Eric and Minna Matzke Brunkow, was born on August 28, 1930 on a farm ½ mile south of Tobias. He was baptized as an infant and in 1943 confirmed at St. John’s Church in Western. He attended school in Tobias, grades kindergarten through 12, graduating in 1948 with a class of ten. Upon graduation he attended National Railroad School in Omaha and worked for Peter Kewitt Construction. He moved to Lincoln and worked at Goodyear. Moving back to Tobias he worked for the railroad and later for Hamouz Service. As a young adult he played softball with Western, Halfway Station, and Milligan teams. Later he umpired for local Little League baseball teams and girls’, women’s, and men’s softball teams. During this time he served as the local representative on the SFS baseball league. In the early 80’s he worked with other local volunteers in erecting the backstop and fence at the present ball field. In February of 1954 he started working for Milligan Farmers Coop. He worked there until his retirement in 1995. He was first employed as a tank truck driver, then worked in the fertilizer department, and last of all was in appliance service. On June 9, 1954 he was united in marriage to Shirley Ann Synovec. Their first home was 1 mile east of Milligan. In 1961 they moved to their new home in Milligan. To this union 4 children were born, Alan Wayne, Kathy Kaye, Lois Lynne, and Jay Charles. He was a member of the Tobias and Milligan Fire Departments for a total of 45 years. He served on the Milligan Village Board for 16 years. His favorite pastimes through the years were going to polka dances, helping Alan on the farm, activities with his family, (especially his grandchildren), helping others, having coffee with friends, and woodworking. He especially enjoying demonstrating rope making using his antique rope machines. He did this at Homestead National Monument each June during Homestead Days, at Hanover, KS during Hanover Days, for several school groups, Boy Scout groups, Thayer County Historical Society and 4th grade classes at Crete Public School. He is survived by his wife, Shirley of 64 years; daughter, Lois Butler and husband, Edward; sons, Alan Brunkow and wife, Debbie, and Jay Brunkow and wife, Tina: Grandchildren: Christa Polhemus-Walker; Brandon Polhemus and wife, Kimberly; Alison Schwanke and husband, Bryce; Juliana Schweitzer and husband, Jaron; Laura Smith and husband, Chris; Jarrod Brunkow and wife, Amie; Keely and Cami Brunkow. Great-grandsons: Caedmon and Emmett Schwanke, Coen Walker, Kason Smith, Ashton and Parker Schweitzer. Great-granddaughters: Zaylie Schweitzer, Anna and Kenzie Polhemus, Macklyn and Finley Smith, Aurora, Waverly, Araminta, and Milli Brunkow. Sister, Mary Lou Burback and husband, Donald Burback, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter, Kathy Kaye, grandson, Benjamin Edward Polhemus, brothers, Almon Brunkow, Claremont Brunkow and wife, Angeline, sister, Neva Zemka and her husband, Kenneth, sister-in-law, Irene Mae Synovec, and brother in law, Milton J. Synovec and wife, Harriet and brother in law, John Jablonski.

Tributes

Richard W. Brunkow

August 28, 1930 - November 29, 2018