Obituary of Joseph Anton Brunkan

WORTHINGTON, IOWA Joseph A. Brunkan, 85, of Dyersville, Iowa, died Thursday, April 23, 2015, at his home. Friends may call from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sunday, April 26, 2015, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville where a parish vigil service will be held at 2:00 p.m. and an American Legion Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Friends may continue to call at the funeral home from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 27, prior to funeral services. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 27, 2015, at St. Paul Catholic Church in Worthington with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Dennis Quint will officiate and Rev. Dan Knipper will concelebrate. Burial will be in St. Paul Cemetery in Worthington where American Legion Post 137 will accord military honors. Joe was born August 18, 1929, in Worthington, Iowa the son of Thomas and Kate (Dunkel) Brunkan. He attended Lebo Country School and attended St. Paul School in Worthington until 9th grade. He served in Korea in the Army from 1951 - 1953. He married Rosalie Bockenstedt on January 4, 1964, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Greeley, Iowa. Together they farmed near Worthington, and Joe worked at the Ertl Company for 30 years. Joe enjoyed watching sports of all types, especially the Beckman Blazers and the Iowa Hawkeyes. He also enjoyed tinkering around the farm, fixing equipment or making "art" with his welder, driving his tractor in parades in the area, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. Survivors include his wife, Rosie, 3 children: Ann (Mike) Wink of Marion, Tim (Jill) Brunkan of Eldridge, and Jennifer (Jason Smith) Brunkan-Smith of Mission, Kansas; 3 grandchildren, Jayda, Calla and Georgia Brunkan; a sister, Catherine Steffen of New Vienna; a sister-in-law, Janet (Robert) Brown of Colesburg. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Arnold Steffen. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.