White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Brandon – Elaine F. Brunko, 95 years old, of Brandon, Iowa, died on Thursday, June 20, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  She was born on December 1, 1917, in Brandon, Iowa, the daughter of Clarence J. and Florence Amelia (Jacobs) Rouse.  She graduated from the Brandon high school in 1934, and then earned her teaching credentials at Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  She taught in the Buchanan County country schools and in Urbana, Iowa.  On July 1, 1938, she and Willard Charles Brunko were married at the Maquoketa Caves State Park in Maquoketa, Iowa.  He preceded her in death in 2002.  Mrs. Brunko was a member of the Brandon United Methodist Church (83 years), United Methodist Women (60 years, 5 years as President), the Brandon Garden Club and the Brandon Red Hat Ladies.  She was a volunteer for Cedar Valley Hospice, the Independence Senior Center, and Taylor School in Cedar Rapids.

Elaine’s focus in life was her husband, children, many grandchildren and great grandchildren, and her Christian Faith.  Her hobbies were sewing, gardening, quilting, cooking and pie baking, and playing Scrabble.  She was known as “Apple” Grandma to one family and “Scrabble” Grandma to another.  Elaine arrived in Heaven in time to celebrate her 75^th wedding anniversary with Willard on July 1^st.

Mrs. Brunko is survived by 2 sons, Gary (Cathy) Brunko of Orem, Utah, and Darrell (Kim) Brunko of Brandon, Iowa, 3 daughters, Eloise (Bill) Baldwin of Fairbank, Iowa, Chris Schultz of Ankeny, Iowa, and Anne Marie Brunko of Brandon, Iowa, 20 grandchildren, and 43 great grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, 1 daughter in infancy, 1 son-in-law, Gary Schultz, 1 grandson, 1 granddaughter, 3 brothers, Harold Rouse, Wayne Rouse, Gerald Rouse, and 3 sisters, Georgia West, Lula Decker, and one infant.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 24, 2013, at the United Methodist Church in Brandon, Iowa, with Pastor Lanette Van officiating.  Burial will be in Brandon Cemetery in Brandon.  White Funeral Home of Independence is in charge of arrangements.  Friends may call from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 23^rd, at the funeral home.