Charles E. Bruner, Sr. (87) of Willow Hill

Charles E. Bruner, Sr. age 87 of Willow Hill passed away Sunday, June 26, 2022 at the Villas of Holly Brook, Charleston, Illinois.

Funeral services celebrating Charles’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, June 30, 2022 at the Crain Funeral Home, Newton with Bro. Larry Matson officiating. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until time of services Thursday, June 30th in the funeral home. Burial will be in the Mound Cemetery with military rites by Jasper Post No. 20 of the American Legion.

Charles was born on July 26, 1934 in Tell City, Indiana the son Charles Doisy Bruner and Gilberta Louise Keown. His paternal grandparents were Arthur James and Luna (Swope) Bruner and paternal aunts Lucille Selby and Lela (Ed) Steinfort. Charles served his country in the United State Marie Corp during the Korean Conflict. On April 20, 1954, Charles married Roberta Jane Holm. They shared sixty-four years of marriage before her passing on February 20, 2019.

Charles was a union brick mason. He was a co-owner of C&J Masonry of Newton until his retirement approximately ten years ago.   He built many local schools, businesses, university additions, and beautiful homes. He was a long standing member of the Salem Missionary Baptist Church of Willow Hill, now located in Oblong, Illinois.

Charles was an avid gun and knife collector and owner of farm ground in Willow Hill. He loved to restore antique cars and loved his Model T. In his younger years, he built and raced stock cars until he injured his back in a wreck. Enjoying music, he bought a baby grand piano and an organ which he took lessons to learn to play. Until his death, he liked to be busy on the farm and just couldn’t sit still. He was a man of few words but had a great sense of humor. He is loved and will be missed by many family and friends.

Survivors include his children Bruce (Deb) Bruner of Peoria, Pamela (Lisa) Bruner Miller of Charleston and Charles (Ruth) Bruner, Jr. of Huntington, IN; ex-son-in-law Roy L. Miller of Newton; nine grandchildren Jeremy (Yvonne) Dunlap, Joseph (Mindy) Bruner, , Tabitha (Jason) Adams, Mike (Kandi) Moore, Dan (Robin) Moore; Brian (Carrie) Miller, Lee Miller; Brandon (Paula) Catt, Joseph (Rachel) Bruner; sixteen great-grandchildren; and one great great grandchild, also sister Carol E. Allen of Oblong; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Roberta Jane and siblings Leo Arthur Bruner, Joy Doris Lewis Collings, Robert Eugene Bruner and Lloyd Keown Bruner.

Memorial gifts may be made to either the Alzheimer’s Association or to the Jasper Post No. 20 of the American Legion.

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