Lois Cyrena Sherrard Brunner

Lois was born in Cambridge, Illinois on June 19, 1920 to James Glenn and Florence Azalea Kerr Sherrard. She was the oldest of three daughters, growing up comfortably and lovingly in a simple rural life. Her young years were spent helping with farm chores, tending the garden, churning butter, helping her mom in the kitchen and caring for the animals.

Lois was a very good student and loved to read. After graduating from Cambridge High School, she continued her education at Eureka College in Illinois. She later transferred to the University of Illinois where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education. Along the way she met the handsome Cedric Brunner, whom she married in a crossed-swords military ceremony. Over the years they were blessed with five children.

Lois always had a great passion and patience for children, both her own and all others from extended families and the neighborhood. She enjoyed teaching grade school, taught Sunday school and bible classes, was a den mother for Cub Scouts, and a Brownie/Girl Scout leader, sometimes all in the same week. Lois always joined in her children’s activities such as sewing upholstery for Jim’s restored Model A Ford, helping with lunches for Sherry’s horse trail-rides, rooting for the high school football teams that Jim, Mike and Dick played on, and attending Kerry’s symphony concerts. She was an excellent seamstress, making many outfits for the whole family, and creating Halloween costumes from her own sketches. Lois was also an excellent knitter, making sweaters for everyone in the family, and booties for all newcomers.

Lois and Cedric loved the great outdoors. Most summers when the kids were young, the family would spend vacations on camping trips in Wisconsin or Minnesota with Lois feeding the whole family three square meals a day, regardless of the weather, from a small two-burner camp stove, over an open campfire, or from a picnic basket full of sandwiches with a large thermos of Kool-Aid. These trips included waterskiing, canoeing, swimming, hiking, and seeing all of the interesting sights along the way. The grandest of these camping trips was an adventure from Illinois to California and back, stopping to explore every National Park.

In 1970, Lois, Cedric and the family settled in Golden, Colorado, where their new home state offered endless backpacking trips, cross-country skiing, and numerous backroad adventures to visit ghost towns, seeing the beautiful mountains, and occasionally hunting for minerals. Being involved in the community was very important to her. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Golden, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Golden Garden Club, and a life time member of the Colorado Mineral Society. She often volunteered and participated in these societies, encouraging everyone to join in. Although Lois did not return to her teaching career, her love of books inspired her to join the Golden Library, helping with research projects, or simply suggesting books and articles for patrons’ interests.

Towards the end of Lois’s life, she was unable to live on her own. The family is forever grateful to her primary caregiver Dawn Power, and the many family, friends and hospice staff that loved and cared for her.

Lois was a Christian and a good Samaritan, always willing to help anyone in need. She loved her friends and family and was deeply loved. Lois never said a cross word to anyone, and did not have a mean bone in her body. She was always grateful for the blessings she had. Lois touched the hearts of everyone she knew, and the world was a better place with her in it.

Lois is survived by her four children James (Nancy) Brunner, Sherry Teeters, Michael Brunner and Dick (Karen) Brunner, six grandchildren Elizabeth (Anthony) Swon, Rebecca Hogan, Benjamin (Jamie) Brunner, Vance (Emily) Brunner, Nikki Ciccarelli and Michelle Evans, 15 great grandchildren, and 11 great-great grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband Cedric Brunner, son Kerry, her two sisters Mary Lenore (Earl) Kistler and Dorothy May (Raymond) Faunce, her son in-law William Teeters, her daughter in-law Paulette Brunner and her grandson in-law Todd Ciccarelli.

Lois’s ashes will be scattered in the mountains, and a celebration of her life will be scheduled at a later time.

A memorial fund in Lois’s name is available for donations by check payable to:

The First Presbyterian Church of Golden

17707 West 16th Avenue

Golden, Colorado 80401.

Or online at www.goldenpresbyterian.org . Please note “The Lois Brunner Memorial Fund” on the check or in the comments section of the website.