GEORGE BRUKARDT

George was born July 18, 1923 in Wilson, Michigan, to the late William and Anna Brukardt and died peacefully on Sept. 2, 2011 at Prairie Home in Menasha. He graduated from Harris (Mich.) High School and served in the U.S. Army 87th Infantry Division in Europe in World War II. In 1948, he married Mary Elizabeth Osier and settled in Marinette, Wis. In the mid-1960s, the family moved to the Fox River Valley and settled in Neenah where they lived for the past several decades. George was employed in the paper industry for many years and retired from Georgia Pacific in 1982. He and Mary raised three children: David (Mary Jane) of Spokane, Wash., Robert (Neenah) and Carol Wessel (Appleton). George was an accomplished saxophone player and an avid stamp collector. He was known and loved for his sense of humor, his kind and generous heart, and his giving spirit. He had a special way of expressing gratitude and appreciation for others and had a remarkable gift of encouragement. George is survived by his wife of 63 years and his children; his sister Grace Kempf of Appleton; and sisters-in-law Doris Brukardt of Escanaba, Mich.; Emily Mogle (Joe) of Tucson, Ariz.; and by his six granddaughters: Katy, Bethany, Robyn, Serenity, Amber and Sailor; and by various nieces, nephews and cousins. Memorials should be directed to Martin Luther Church, Neenah, where George was a long-time choir member and treasurer. A funeral service for George will be held Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 1:00 P.M. at Martin Luther Church, Neenah, Rev. Jason Oakland officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. until the hour of service. Entombment will be at Highland Memorial Park. Mary and her family would like to acknowledge and thank those who have provided loving care and support for George as he courageously battled cancer: Dr. Raman Ashta, Dr. Ronald Slovick, and the nurturing staffs at both Prairie Home and at Heartland Hospice. I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord. -- Psalm 122