Kazuko "Nancy" Bruner

Kazuko “Nancy” Murata Bruner passed away peacefully from natural causes on Friday July 8th, 2021 in Gilroy, California at the age of 88 . She was a long time resident of Carmel, California where she resided with her husband, Robert C. Bruner (now deceased) until 2018.

Kazuko was born on August 17, 1932 to Kenzo Murata & Yoshiko Hara Murata. She was the youngest of 6 children. Her Father was a well know educator in Tokyo, Japan and established the first Private business school of Accounting in Tokyo called Murata Boki Gakko and later the Murata Joshi Kohto Gakko, a private high School for girls. Kazuko assisted her father with secretarial and accounting duties and later finished High school. She attended University in Tokyo with the intention to learn English and become an interpreter.

During the Korean war she worked at an American Army base as an interpreter, switch board operator & American Red Cross nurse, She met her husband Robert C. Bruner and was married 2 years later. They moved to Great Lakes, Illinois to an Army Base where she continued her education at a junior college to achieve an American High school diploma, as her Japanese credentials were not recognized in the U.S.

As the wife of an active duty Army staff sergeant, life on an army base and traveling was the norm. Kazuko & Robert ”Bob” started their family with the birth of their first child Richard in 1956 and their second son, Gary in 1957. Kazuko then applied for U.S Citizenship and became a naturalized citizen November 6th, 1958.

In the 60's Kazuko and Bob purchased a house in Seaside, California to raise their boys. After 2 more tours of duty in Japan & Germany, they finally settled in to the Monterey County. Kazuko enjoyed attending her local church, becoming a member of a bowling team, going to PTA meetings, and being a den mother for her sons Cub Scouts troop. Kazuko later began a career at Dean Witter Brokerage firm as an office manager. During her employment she attended Monterey Peninsula College to obtain an Associate of Arts degree in business. She then achieved her brokerage license to add stock broker to her job responsibilities. She retired from Dean Witter after 28 years.

Kazuko is preceded in death by her husband Robert C. Bruner, her son Richard A. Bruner and daughter in law, Ernestine “Dee Dee” Bruner. Survived by her immediate family Son, Gary S. Bruner and his wife Susan J Bruner. Granddaughter Jennifer K Bruner and her husband Geovany Rodriguez and grandchildren Jacob, Jeremiah, and Jameson.

Family has scheduled a private ceremony. Please feel free to leave a message or share a memory below.