John Joseph Brunson, Sr.
Marriages
Ginger E Wise - May 13, 1972
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5B Obituary - July 7, 2016
John Joseph
Brunson, Sr.
July 7, 1950 - May 10, 2016
Lance Corporal, John Joseph
Brunson Sr, passed away on
May 10, 2016, in Fairfield,
California, after a brief battle
with cancer. He would have
been 66 years old today.
John was the fourth child
born to Sylvester Marion and
Marjorie Elizabeth Brunson
on July 7, 1950, in Grand Junction, Colorado. He attended
Grand Junction High School before enlisting in the Marines in
1968. John served as a mortar man, with H & S Company, Third
Battalion 4th Marines, serving 13 months in Vietnam.
After returning from the War, he worked for the Rio Grande
Railroad. He worked for the coal mines near Carbondale,
Colorado, and was an EMT for an ambulance business he
owned and operated. In later years, he became a heavy
equipment operator, eventually retiring as an Operating
Engineer. John loved working in his wood shop, making many
beautiful furniture pieces for their home and as gifts to family
and friends. He loved having a beer and a laugh with his best
friend, Tom, and playing cribbage with his pal, Charlie. John
liked reading books and writing his memoirs of the Vietnam
War. John also loved to fish and go out on his boat, with his son
and best buddies, Al and Pop, later advising his young
grandson, Logan, that “what happens on the boat, stays on the
boat”! He will be missed at Fawnies at Thanksgiving time.
Even though he didn’t meet John Jr.’s children, Papa John loved
all his kids and grandkids very much.
He met Ginger E. Wise and her young daughter, Kim, in
September 1971. John and Ginger were married the following
year, on Saturday, May 13th, 1972. They were married almost
44 years.
John is survived by his wife, Ginger; daughter, Kim Wise; son,
John Joseph Jr. (Robynn), and daughter, Fawn (Kenny) Watson.
His grandchildren, Juli, Logan, Tristan, Taylor, Jaden, Jt,
Gemma, Grayson, William and Abby; and two greatgrandchildren,
Lily and Jack. He is also survived by his siblings,
Sylvia Calhoon, Tom Brunson, Cheri Hartman, Gayle Klein,
and Bruce Brunson; his nephews, Troy, Eric and Chris, and his
niece, Monica.
He is preceded in death by his parents and grandson, Joey.
Military services to be held in Grand Junction, Colorado, in
the Fall.
To know him, was to love him.
Charitable contributions may be sent to a Veteran’s Memorial
fund of choice or HopeWest.
