Ethel I. Bruns

Ethel I. (Reinhard) Bruns, age 88 of St. Henry died peacefully on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at The Gardens at St. Henry.  Ethel was born on November 6, 1935, in St. Joe, Ohio, to the late Joseph & Odelia (Brackman) Reinhard.  She married Gerald (PeeWee) Bruns in 1956, and he died in 1989.  Ethel and her husband were the former owners of Bruns Pepsi Distribution of St. Henry for over 30 years.  They began their business in their garage on Kremer Hoying Road in St. Henry.

Ethel is survived by her children and their spouses, Jeff & Anna Bruns of Elida, Nancy & Jeff Luebke of Maria Stein, Dan & Kim Bruns of St. Henry, Jeanette & Dan Wehrkamp of St. Henry, Doug Bruns of St. Petersburg, FL, and grandchildren: Jessica & Ryan Cieply, Ericka Bruns & Sarah Schmidt, Cory & Hayley Luebke, Troy & Heidi Luebke, Ryan Wehrkamp, Todd Wehrkamp, Nicole & Clayton Hoyng, and 13 great grandchildren.  Other survivors include Ethel’s siblings and in-laws: Jerome Reinhard of Otterbein St. Marys, Edna Reinhard of Plainfield, IN, Judy & Dave Didier, Margie & Don Nottingham of Ft. Wayne, IN, Bev Bramstedt of St. Louis, MO, Joe Hahn of Indianapolis, IN, John & Jean Bruns of St. Marys, Paul Dierker of Idaho, and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, Ethel is preceded in death by siblings and in-laws: Irene Reinhard, Eugene Reinhard, Irene & Bill Gardner, Dominic Reinhard, Norbert & Florence Reinhard, Sr. Sylvia (Lucille) Reinhard C.P.P.S., Joseph Reinhard Jr. Robert Reinhard, Robert & Joan Bruns, Arlene Dierker, Jean Hahn, and Ray Bramstedt, and her father and mother-in-law, Roman & Rita (Kremer) Bruns.

Ethel & Gerald were charter members of the St. Henry EMS.  She had also been a member of the Mercer County Elks, The St. Henry Fire Dept Auxiliary, and the St. Henry Jaycees.  Ethel was a member of St. Henry Catholic Church and the Altar Rosary Sodality and helped with funerals.  Ethel also baked pies at Pullman Bay restaurant for several years.  She loved her family, especially her grandchildren, and prayed many a rosary for them all.  Ethel’s family would like to thank the staff at The Gardens at St. Henry for their compassionate care of their mother since she became a resident last October.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30am on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at St. Henry Catholic Church in St. Henry.  A private family burial service will take place in St. Henry Cemetery.  Friends and relation are welcome to call from 4-8pm on Wednesday, April 17, and from 9-10am on Thursday, April 18, at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in St. Henry.  Memorial Contributions may be made to the Southern Mercer County Joint Ambulance, 436 Western Ave. St. Henry, OH 45883.  Condolences for the family may be extended in person, or expressed at hogenkampfh.com