Elsie Mae Bruning

Elsie Mae Tormoehlen Bruning, 87, of Signal Mountain, Tenn., formerly of Columbus, died at 5:15 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, at Alexian Village Health Care Center. Mrs. Bruning was a homemaker and had been employed by the former Bruning’s Specialty Shop, a retail store in downtown Columbus owned and operated by the Bruning family for 87 years. She was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and Lutheran Lake Resort Association. She enjoyed playing cards, traveling and spending time with her family. The funeral will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Hathaway-Myers Chapel on Pearl Street with Pastor Mark R. Teike officiating. Calling will be from 9 a.m. until service time Friday. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hathaway-myers.com. Born in Seymour Sept. 23, 1923, Mrs. Bruning was the daughter of Edward and Anna Spray Tormoehlen. She married Max Bruning May 14, 1950, in Seymour. He preceded her in death Sept. 1, 1998. Mrs. Bruning is survived by a daughter, Beth Gonzenbach of Signal Mountain; sons, Bill Bruning of Columbus, Bob (Tammi) Bruning of Forest City, NC, Brian (Elizabeth) Bruning of Carmel, IN, and Brad (Donna) Bruning of Camby, IN; 12 grandchildren; sisters, Irma (Robert) Demske and Bernice Kasting, all of Seymour. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, Thomas Bruning; and 10 brothers and sisters.