Mike Brunner

Cheers to Mike's Life With a valiant fight, Mike's light was extinguished on April 6. Husband, dad, grandfather, and "Poppy",

Michael Raymond Brunner was born July 14, 1951 to Gerald and Elizabeth (Wood) Brunner in Cheyenne, WY. Moving to the Kittitas Valley in 1963, Ellensburg is where Mike would make his lifelong home. Mike graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1969 and worked a variety of jobs until he began driving school bus for the Ellensburg School District in 1989. Many knew him as "Mr. Mike" from this and working at Lincoln Elementary from October 1989 until September 1999. He officially retired as a bus driver in 2001, soon after he began his Mike's Water Systems and More business, which he sold in 2016.

Mike was married to Deborah Ann (Sinclair) Brunner on Valentine's Day 1976 and together they raised their family, served their community, and opened their arms to family and friends. Mike was known to all as a passionate and friendly person who always made the time to chat with people. He had a knack for making people feel special, from the students on his daily bus to the hundreds of trips he drove around the state. As a business owner, he served several thousand customers throughout the Kittitas Valley; his work ethic and commitment made happy customers and family from employees.

He was a rancher, a car enthusiast, a camper, a tinkerer, an accomplished skier, a Jazz in the Valley Board Member for 17 years, an avid Seahawks fan, and his most important passion: his family, where he was happiest. To all, Mike was a generous and outgoing man. A man of many words and even more friends, Mike always greeted everyone with his trademark grin, his expressive eyes and open arms, always making you feel welcome. Mike was a man of uncommon grace, honesty, and friendship, who never met a stranger.

Preceded in death by his father Gerald, Mike is survived by his wife of 42 years, Deb Brunner of Ellensburg; his son Dayn (Amber) Brunner and their children from Darrington, WA; his son Jason (Sherry) Brunner and their children from Lake Stevens, WA; his daughter Rachel (Jack) Peasley and their daughter from Pomeroy, WA; and his son Micah (Kathryn) Brunner and their son from Ellensburg, as well as his mother, Betty Fronabarger of Ellensburg, brothers, Kevin (Robin) Brunner of Custer, WA and Joe (Kristine) Robinson of Kodiak, AK.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 12 at 4:30 PM in the gym at Lincoln Elementary. Memorial contributions in Mike's honor are suggested to the American Brain Tumor Association at www.abta.com, Hospice Friends (302 S. Main, Ellensburg), or the Lincoln Elementary Parent Council. Steward & Williams Funeral Home and Crematory of Ellensburg has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.steward-williams.com