John Ivan Bruntz was born April 16, 1934 on a farm south west of Friend, Nebraska to John H. And Lena C. (Schwabauer) Bruntz, The fourth of four children and passed away on Sunday, April 26, 2015 at his home in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
As a young boy, he attended country school near their farm and graduated with the class of 1951 from Friend High School. He earned letters in football and basketball.
He formed with his father for three years and then volunteered for the Army and served at fort Smith, Arkansas and Fort Hood, Texas, in the III Corp, as a news reporter for the post newspaper. During this time (1956) he and Doris JoAnne Taylor of Exeter were married, celebrating 59 years together on Friday, April 24, 2015.
