Edwin John Bruner

Lake Andes – Edwin John Bruner, 98, went to his heavenly home Monday, October 6, 2025 at Lake Andes Healthcare Center. Memorial mass will be Tuesday, October 14 at 10:30 am at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Lake Andes. Visitation will be Monday, October 13 from 6 to 7 pm, with a Rosary service at 7:00 pm, at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Lake Andes. Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Lake Andes. Edwin John Bruner, was the second of four sons born to John and Mildred (Hruska) Bruner. He was born on July 10, 1927, and left us to be with his Savior and with the love of his life on Monday, October 06, 2025. He died in his sleep, having lived to be 98 years old. He was a loving and wonderful father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, uncle, and friend to many. He dedicated his life to serving his church, family, friends, and community. Ed lived with his grandparents until he was about five years old. His grandparents spoke Bohemian language, and Ed did not learn English until he went to kindergarten. He was graduated from Geddes High School in 1945 and attended trade school at Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, SD. He served in the U.S. Army from May 10, 1946 - November 09, 1947 as a Military Policeman (MP). Ed and Betty Durham were united in marriage at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Geddes, SD, on November 25, 1948. Four children were born to this union; Linda, E. John, Judy, and Barry. Ed and Betty lived in Geddes, SD, until June 1969, when they moved to Lake Andes, SD. Ed and Betty moved to the Lake Andes Senior Living Center in July 2022. Ed and Betty were inseparable. Their enduring love was visible as they held hands at the dining table, when watching television in their room, and even when they rolled their wheelchairs down the hallway at the Senior Living Center. Ed was privileged to help build the Fort Randall Dam in Pickstown, SD. He worked for the Charles Mix County Highway Department (~30 years) operating the maintainer / road grader, building roads, and maintaining roads; he was the supervisor when he retired. He operated a welding and repair shop from his home in Geddes for a short time. He worked for about one year at the Chrysler plant in Belvedere, IL. During all of his employment, he maintained a "hobby farm" on the side, having cattle, horses, pigs, chickens, and a few Guinea hens. To support his farm animals, he raised corn and cut hay. Ed was a very loyal and dedicated Ford owner throughout his life. Ed was talented in many facets of life - welding, plumbing, electrical, auto mechanics, carpentry, drawing / art, mathematics. Ed had high standards for himself and did everything to near perfection. He could fix and build almost anything! Outside of the "routine", Ed built and repaired bicycles; built a go-cart for his family; built a wooden airplane for one of his kid's homecoming parade entry; and he collected parts and assembled a 1927 Model T. He drove his Model T in many parades in SD. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed playing cards. Unless there was a dance, the highlight of his Saturday nights is Geddes was going downtown to the pool hall to play cards with the guys. He could be quite a comedian, also. It was not uncommon for one of his kids to "shower" the Sunday dinner table because Dad had said something funny while they were drinking milk. He was quite a dancer, too! He and Betty danced a "mean" polka back in the day! Ed was a member of St. Ann's and St. Mark's Catholic Churches and served as both a lector and a Eucharistic Minister. He was active in the Knights of Columbus and attained the ranking of Fourth Degree Knight. He was also a member of the American Legion. He served the Geddes and/or Lake Andes communities as a volunteer fireman, board of education member, and city councilman. Ed is survived by three of his four children: E. John Bruner of Winfred, SD; Judy (Steven) Helser of Arvada, CO; and Barry Bruner of Parker, CO. Thirteen grandchildren, with 11 surviving, happily called him Grandpa: Sara Hevle (Wayne Lentsch), Joshua D. Bruner, Heather (Kelvin) Gessner, Heidi (Casey) York, Matthew Bruner, Abbie (Darren) Ward, Laura (Yoshihiro) Mitsuyama, Beth (Taylor) Gardner, Brian Helser, Brooke Bruner, and Charli Bruner. He had 17 great-grandchildren: Shelby (Coty) Alverson; Melissa (Chad) Stitz; MicKayla Hanzlik; Aiden Heimes; Emily and Austin Hevle; Marliee Lentsch; Javin and Jackson Bruner; Mason and Cooper York; Isaac Bruner; Addison, Owen, and Asher Ward; Luke Mitsuyama; and Ethan Gardner. He was also very blessed to be the great-great-grandfather of six: Wesley, Grady, and Bodey Alverson; Kalvin Hanzlik; Jordann Spielman; and Rylan Cook. Ed is survived by two brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Clarence "Buzz" and Donna Durham; Richard Durham and Billee Thompson; as well as many nieces and nephews. Preceding Ed in death are his wife of 76.5 years, Betty; his daughter, Linda Bruner; granddaughters, Amy Fox and Melissa Hevle-Heimes; brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert and Lorraine Bruner, Tom and Leona Bruner, and Richard and Sharon Bruner; in-laws, Margaret and Elvern Varilek, Betty Durham, and Mervin and Carol Durham.