Paul Derstine Brunner

Paul Derstine Brunner was born July 24, 1925 in Blooming Glen Pennsylvania. > He was the first born of Edgar and Anna Brunner. He moved with his parents > at a young age to the Souderton Pennsylvania area where he attended > elementary school and Sell-Perk High School. Following high school > graduation he went to Goshen College until World War II broke out. During > the war he was in C. P. S. camp in Glacier National Park in Montana where he > was a fire spotter. At the close of the war he helped with the European > Reclamation and sailed twice to Poland on ships carrying horses. > > When he returned home he completed his BA in Bible at Goshen College. After > a few years of delivering milk for Hoffman's Dairy, he had an appointment > with his Dr. During the visit the Dr. asked him if he had ever thought of > being a minister. This was the challenge he needed to help him discern his > life's work. He then returned to Goshen Biblical Seminary where he received > his Bachelor of Theology. While at Seminary he met Grace Derstine. They > were married after his first year. At Seminary he lead the Nurse's Choir > and the Seminary Choir. After graduation he did a 1 year interim at > Christopher Dock High School in Souderton Pennsylvania where he taught music > and directed the choir. > > After this he was called to pastor Wooster Mennonite Church in Wooster Ohio > where Bishop C.F Derstine ordained him. During his time at Wooster > Mennonite he and Grace started their family. They welcomed Beverly Ann and > Jon Scott to complete the Brunner Family. > > Over the years God called Paul and Grace to long-pastor at Zion Mennonite > Church in Hubbard Oregon, Whitestone Mennonite Church in Hesston, Kansas and > Beech Mennonite Church in Louisville Ohio. > > It was always their desire to close their ministry doing interim pastoring. > Those interims lead them to Zurich Mennonite Church in Zurich Ontario > Canada, Directing the Pastoral Ministry Program at Hesston College, Trinity > Mennonite Church in Hillsboro, Kansas, Trinity Mennonite Church in Phoenix > Arizona, Tabor Mennonite Church in rural Goessel Kansas and finally Blooming > Glen Mennonite Church in Blooming Glen Pennsylvania. > > Paul passed away peacefully on Sunday night September 14, 2014 at Schowalter > Villa. > > Left to miss him, are his wife Grace, daughter Beverly Ann Goertzen > and husband Nelson, son Jon Scott Brunner and wife Chauneci, brothers > David Brunner and wife JoAnn and Donald Brunner and wife Carolyn. > Also missing him are Grandchildren Tyler Goertzen, A.J. Goertzen and wife Stacey, Hope Goertzen, > Christina Brunner, Nicholas Brunner, and Great-Grandson Reed Goertzen, > as well as number of nieces and nephews. > > Services will be held at Hesston Mennonite Church on Thursday September 18, > 2014. > > Viewing and family visitation from 3-5pm at the church. > > Memorial Service at 5:30pm in the church sanctuary. > > Following the service there will be a fellowship meal and celebration in the > Community Room of the church. > > Inurnment will be Saturday September 20 at East Lawn Cemetery, rural Hesston > at 10:00am, > > In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Dementia Care at Schowalter > Villa, Hesston Kansas and may be sent in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, 107 S. Lancaster PO Box 32, Hesston, KS 67062. Condolences may be left for the family at www.ottfuneralhomes.com

Paul Derstine Brunner

July 24, 1925 - September 14, 2014