Franklin Theodore Brunsman
December 20, 1934 - November 4, 2007
Obituary
Franklin Theodore Brunsman
1934—2007
Franklin Theodore Brunsman, aka “FB” or “Frank,” passed away suddenly on November 4, 2007 in Seattle, Washington, at the age of 72. Born Dec. 20, 1934, in Oakes, North Dakota, Frank was the son of Albert and Dora Galeener Brunsman, the youngest of seven children. The Brunsman family was prominent in wool-growing and farming for over half a century in LaMoure, North Dakota. He served his country in the U.S. Army for two years. Following military service, he graduated with a degree in English and History at Minnesota State University Moorhead MSU. While in college he served as editor for the MSU “Dragon” newspaper and met his first wife Mary Alice Pierce. After working as an acting editor of the “Fargo Forum” following graduation, he and his family relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he had a brief teaching assistantship at the University of Utah. Then he worked as a news reporter for the Salt Lake Tribune for 25 years.
Frank will be most remembered as an avid writer and father of five children, always proud of their accomplishments. He was also a sports enthusiast with a lifelong interest in college basketball and football. From the time he lived in Salt Lake he supported the U. of U. Utes and Utah Jazz, and most recently was a big fan of the Seattle Seahawks, Storm, and Mariners. Frank approached his writing with great human interest, a sense of humor, and a flair for uncovering stories about current events and ordinary people. He was a devoted student of history, especially Western Americana. Frank was nonjudgmental, compassionate, and generous to all. He loved his family unconditionally and will be missed greatly.
He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Spencer Don in New Mexico, and brother, Bert Brunsman Isabel in Oregon, as well as many nieces and nephews. His children and grandchildren are: son, Denver Brunsman Taryn of Chicago, Illinois, and their two children Gavin and Sanne; daughter Laura Lintz Bill of Las Vegas, Nevada, and her son Alex; daughter Leah Brunsman Dave of Salt Lake City, Utah and her children Anna, Dutch, Donna, David, and Roy; daughter Sally Brunsman Kim of Seattle, Washington, and their child Willa; and daughter Julie Howard Gil of Salt Lake City, Utah, and daughters Erica and Kelsey He also had six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife Mary Alice, brothers John and David, and sisters Marion and Eleanor. He married his second wife Toni Grimes, and was later divorced.
A memorial service will be held on November 8, 2007 in Seattle at Central Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity, 1710 11th Ave. at 3 pm.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be sent to Disabled Veterans of America or the American Cancer Society.
We are both very saddened at the loss of Mr. Brunsman. We wish to extend our sympathies to his entire family.
Rita and I extend our condolences to the family.
Denver, we never had the pleasure of meeting your father. Yet if we are allowed to judge a man by his children, Franklin Brunsman was a very special person. It would have been an honor to know him.
To the Brunsman Family:
It is with sadness that I read of the passing of Frank and unbeknownst to me, his wife at an earlier date. I knew them both while Frank worked at The Salt Lake Tribune in the 1960s and, I believe, into the ’70s. Frank’s family and mine spent time together. We had one very eventful Sunday afternoon in journeying to the top of Farmington Peak well, the adults enjoyed it…kids’ opinions optional. Frank was a true professional. He is one “ink-stained wretch” affectionate journalistic phrase who will be remembered always in these parts.
Dick Rosetta, Salt Lake Tribune Sports Editor Ret.
Dear Leah and Sally,
I saw the obituary for your father in today’s Tribune and read through it because I thought he might be related to you. Although it has been many years, I remember both of you so warmly.
Your father sounds like a great man and a loving father. I never met him, but in reading about his life, and remembering what you were like in high school, it is no stretch to think that such an intelligent, educated, and compassionate man would be your father. I wish I’d had the chance to get to know him. But I’m glad that at least I went to school with two of his daughters.
I hope all is well with you and your families.
Sincerely,
Susan Piele Morgan.