Verna Brunkhorst

Verna Dell (Aunspaugh) Brunkhorst, 93, of Mitchell, NE, passed away September 14, 2020, at the Central Nebraska Veterans Home in Kearney, Nebraska.

She was born on August 1, 1927, in Gothenburg, Nebraska.  Verna attended and graduated Gothenburg High School.  She completed her education at Long Beach College in California.   Verna married Lyle Brunkhorst on October 12, 1949 in McCook NE and to this marriage they had three children: Michael, Mark, and L. David.

Verna and Lyle traveled from one coast to the other while Lyle was in the Navy.  She then lived in Gothenburg from 1965 until 1997 when they moved to Mitchell.  Verna then went to the Grand Island Veterans home in 2014 until it closed in 2019 and was moved to Kearney to the Central Nebraska Veterans home.  The nurses and staff members at Central Nebraska Veterans Home became her family while they attended to her care.  The staff was special to Verna as they became her family especially when family could not get to see her.

Verna is survived by her son L. David Brunkhorst (Mitchell) and daughter in-law Paula Brunkhorst of Mitchell; Grandchildren Wayne (Amanda) Brunkhorst (Ogallala), Desiree (Ben) Sidders (Grand Island), Nicholas (Brittanie) Brunkhorst (Shreveport, LA), Cassie Brunkhorst (Mitchell), Danielle (Jeremy) Smith of Yantis Texas; nine great-grand-sons and one great grand-daughter; and Sister Janet Schmitz of Medford, Oregon.

She is preceded in death by her parents, George and Lily (Cross) Aunspaugh, brothers – William Aunspaugh and Merle (Tot) Aunspaugh, sisters and brother in-laws Ruth and Harry Wahlgren, Shirley and Dale Fotchman, and Pete Schmitz; husband Lyle and two sons Mark and Michael.

There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place.

Burial will take place on October 2, 2020 at Fort McPherson with the family in attendance.