DELLA MAE BRUNNER

Della Mae Brunner, age 96, of Columbia City, IN died Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 1:25 a.m. at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne. Born on November 28, 1913 in Willshire, OH she was the daughter of Nathan and Susie (Lyons) Gause.A lifetime resident of Whitley County, she was raised in Washington Township graduating from Washington Center High School with the Class of 1931. On July 8, 1948 she married Clarence Alonzo "Pete" Brunner in Louisville, KY. For 13 years she was employed at the former Whitley Products plant in Columbia City until it was destroyed by a tragic fire. She then worked as a production supervisor for Fibre Form for 19 years until her retirement. She was a charter member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge #1906 Auxiliary.She is survived by two sons, James (Nancy) Yant of Columbia City and Ronald (Barbara) Yant of Fort Wayne; daughter, Gloria Shoemaker of South Whitley; 12 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren; and brother, Nathan Gause of Washington state. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Alonzo "Pete" Brunner on January 6, 1986; 2 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild; sister, Nancy Plummer and brother, Robert Gause and two infant brothers, half-brothers and half-sisters.Visitation is Sunday, December 27, 2009 from 1 - 3 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City with funeral service immediately following at 3:00 p.m. Burial will be on Monday, December 28, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at Covington Memorial Gardens, Fort Wayne with Pastor Curtiss Johnson officiating. Memorials may be given in memory of Ms. Brunner to Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. To sign the guest register or send family condolences, please visit www.demoneygrimes.com .