Alberta Helen Bruner

Alberta Helen (Davis) Bruner, age 93, of Appleton, passed away on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, in Neenah. Alberta was born on February 7, 1929, in Arkansas City, Kansas, to the late Eldy Davis and Helen Mary Hargett Davis. She was married on December 27, 1946, to Norval Bruner. They had five children together. Alberta was a lifelong member of the Churches of Christ, most recently with the Mason Street Church of Christ in Appleton.
Alberta worked for Wisconsin Telephone Company, later known as Wisconsin Bell, the Ameritech Wisconsin, until her retirement at age 60. She began as a file clerk and concluded her career as an engineer, overseeing numerous Ameritech employees. She also loved music, having taught piano lessons for about 12 years to supplement the family income in West Texas and Wisconsin.
Alberta loved to sing and participated in the Chaminade Chorus program in Appleton for several years. Her soprano voice was also featured in numerous weddings, funerals, and special events.
Alberta and Norval frequently opened their home to guests, including longtime friends, acquaintances of their sons and church-related travelers, among others. The Bruner family reflected a time-honored tradition of friendliness and a special gift of hospitality. They had numerous connections through family, geographic, occupational, and church ties, and they bequested their gift of cultivating relationships to their sons. They also enjoyed constantly helping others, whether through hospitality in their home or via assistance to those with physical and spiritual needs.
Kids at heart, Alberta and Norval roller-skated into their retirement years and loved spending hours playing board games, as well as card and domino games, with grandchildren, other family members, and church friends. The Bruner table was open at all hours and to all comers, local and far and wide. Norval did the grocery shopping, and Alberta cooked and prepared all the breakfast, lunch, and supper table offerings, including many longtime family-held, mouth-watering recipes that to this day still evoke immediate hunger pangs.
Alberta, who doted on her five boys, all born in less than six years, is survived by three sons: Philip (Connie) of Green Bay, Tim (Kathy) of Conway, Arkansas, and David (Linda) of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; as well as her daughter-in-law Lynda of Kaukauna and sister-in-law Margie Davis of Neenah. Alberta's 12 grandchildren include Julie Sweat, Tyler Bruner, Angie Bruner, Jennifer Bruner, Eric Bruner, Sharla Caldwell, Olivia Kemp, Karis Fruge, Justin Bruner, Jessica Bruner, Tonya Koskelin, and Amy Folletz; she also leaves behind 24 great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Eldy and Helen Davis; husband of more than 68 years, Norval; three siblings: older brother Francis Eldy Davis, twin sister Roberta Davis Robison Kohl, and infant sister, Sylvia Davis; and two sons, Paul and Daniel.
A memorial service for Alberta will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at the sanctuary of the Church of Christ on 2600 N Mason St. in Appleton with minister John Mooney officiating. Interment will take place at Highland Memorial Park in Appleton. Friends may visit from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church. After the service, lunch will be provided by the church for the family and guests.
The Bruner family would like to extend a special note of gratitude to Moments Hospice and the staff of CopperStone Assisted Living, as well as a heartfelt expression of thanks to the extra-special gestures of care provided by grandson Eric Bruner, daughter-in-law Lynda Bruner, and niece Virginia Davis Ducommun.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a financial contribution in Alberta's memory to Appleton's Mason Street Church of Christ mission fund, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp (N3595 Fall Hall Road, Black River Falls, Wisconsin 54615-6909), or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105).