Peter Debrunner

MORRISON, Colo. - Peter Georg Debrunner, 93, of Morrison, Colo., formerly of Urbana, passed away Friday, April 12, 2024, surrounded by his family.

Peter was born on March 11, 1931, to Elise Debrunner (nee Keller) and Paul Rudolf Debrunner, in Sitterdorf, Canton Thurgau, Switzerland.

In 1933, his family moved to Seen, Canton Zurich, where Peter spent his remaining childhood years. Upon graduating from the Kantonsschule (high school), Peter went on to study physics at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule in Zürich, Switzerland.

Peter was the sixth of seven children and the last surviving sibling. He was preceded in death by four sisters, Rosemarie, Magdalena, Annagret and Katharina; and two brothers, Hans Ulrich and Alfred.

Peter met his future wife, Sigrid Mueller, in 1950, and they were married in 1955. Their first two children, Bettina (1957) and Christian (1959), were born while Peter was working on his Ph.D. at the ETH. Upon completing his Ph.D., Peter accepted a post-doctoral position at the University of Illinois in Urbana in 1960 and moved to the U.S. with his wife, Sigrid, and their two children. Their daughter, Susan, was born in 1962 in Urbana.

Upon completing his post-doc, Peter became an assistant professor of physics at the University of Illinois. During his 40-year career at the UI, he achieved the rank of professor of physics, taught physics and published more than 50 scientific articles. His research focused on electron paramagnetic and Mossbauer effects as applied to heme proteins. Peter was a bright, unassuming physicist with a balanced perspective and was admired and respected by his colleagues.

Peter will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Sigrid Debrunner (nee Mueller); a daughter, Bettina Vossbrinck (nee Debrunner) and her husband, Charles Vossbrinck; a son, Christian Debrunner and his wife, Agnes (nee Haken); a daughter, Susan Debrunner and her former husband, Doug Lidiak; nine grandchildren, Alice Vossbrinck, Kate MacMillan (nee Vossbrinck) and husband Sean, Madeline Vossbrinck and husband Michael Poage, Henry Vossbrinck, Tristan Debrunner, Ianna Debrunner, Elsa Debrunner, Eric Lidiak and Alex Lidiak; and four great-grandchildren, Sean and Carl MacMillan and Quinn and Maeve Poage.

Peter enjoyed the outdoors and had a large garden in his backyard in Urbana where he grew blueberries, raspberries, rhubarb, peas, beans, peppers and tomatoes. Peter and Sigrid enjoyed spending time with their children and watching their grandchildren Alice, Kate, Madeline and Henry grow.

Upon Peter's retirement in 1997, he and Sigrid moved to Conifer, Colo., next door to their son, Christian, and his wife, Agnes, and near their daughter Susan. They spent 15 happy years in Conifer, enjoying the Colorado scenery, hiking and skiing, and spending time with their children and their grandchildren Eric, Alex, Tristan, Ianna and Elsa. Peter even managed to keep a small vegetable garden going, in spite of the long winters in Conifer.

In 2012, Peter and Sigrid moved to Morrison, Colo., their most recent home. They continued to spend time outdoors and with their family. Peter enjoyed reading his physics journals and learning about different periods in history. 

Peter was an extraordinary husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather and great-grandfather. He had a long and full life, which we are all happy to have been a part of, and he will remain in our hearts and memories forever.

Per Peter's request, no funeral service will be held. We are in the process of arranging a celebration of Peter's life, to take place this summer, and will send the details to friends and family once the date and location have been determined.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Peter's memory may be sent to the Denver Rescue Mission at denverrescuemission.org.