Ed and Shirley Bruns

Live well, laugh often, love much. This is the mantra that Ed and Shirley Bruns lived by their entire lives. These two incredible people both left us in 2025 - Ed on February 25, 2025, just short of his 98th birthday, and Shirley on October 25, 2025, just two weeks after celebrating her 99th. Their stories began on the south side of Chicago on October 11, 1926, for Shirley and March 8, 1927, for Ed.   

Shirley was the third youngest of 13 children born to Edward and Mary Miller.  Losing her mother at age 9 was a defining moment that taught her resiliency and determination that guided her throughout her life.  She was the first member of her family to graduate from high school as her older siblings worked to support the family during the depression. She married her first husband, John Barcevich, at age 19 and had two boys, John and Stephen. She was widowed at 27 when John was diagnosed with leukemia and died four months later.

Ed was the second oldest of four children born to Edward and Adeline Bruns. Times were tough but he, his two sisters, and brother were close. Ed attended Tilden Technical High School which was an all-boys school specializing in tech fields where he was an accomplished cross-country athlete. After high school, he was drafted in 1945 at the end of World War II and served until 1947.  He began his career in money handling equipment working for the Federal Reserve Bank and soon after became a service representative for Brandt, Inc.

Ed and Shirley’s love story began on a blind date in 1955 and it was love at first sight for Shirley as they danced the night away with several other couples. They married on September 13, 1958, and welcomed a son, Paul, in 1960.  Soon after, they moved to Madison when Ed was offered a district manager position with Brandt. He was a sales and service rep for counties in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin while Shirley ran the business side out of their duplex on Fish Hatchery Road. Their daughter, Joan, rounded out the family in 1964 and in 1965 they built a house on Salisbury Place to accommodate their growing family and business where they stayed for over 20 years.  It was here they hosted their friends and relatives countless times in addition to taking in four ailing relatives over a ten-year period. Their unselfish and generous nature was evident in everything they did.

Eventually all four children would join the family business. With its success, Ed and Shirley took many trips and were able to travel extensively.  Some of their most beloved times, however, were family road trips to Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge and picnics at Devil’s Lake.

After retiring in 1990, Ed and Shirley lived in Verona for many years before moving back to Madison and eventually settling at Home Again Assisted Living in Waunakee where they spent the last six years and were provided with amazing care. They especially enjoyed spending time with each other along with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

We will miss their many endearing qualities. Shirley was an eternal optimist who would never turn down a trip to the casino in hopes of hitting a jackpot. Ed was a master joke teller, magician, and entertainer who would sing for family and friends, often with a cigar in hand. They were inseparable and instilled in us that family is the greatest blessing.   

Ed and Shirley are survived by their children, Stephen (Mary) Bruns, Paul (Sue) Bruns and Joan (Jeff) Bernstein; daughter-in-law, Bonnie (John) Bruns; goddaughter, Louise (Paul) Murphey; grandchildren, Jody (Tom) Frechette, Lisa Bruns, Becky (Derrick) Hendrickson, Jeff (Deb) Bruns, Laura (Cliff) Hull, Matt (Anne Kuenzie) Bruns, Kevin (Kirstin) Bruns, Jessica Bernstein and Jeffrey Bernstein; and great-grandchildren, Taylor (Allie) Ginther, Logan Ginther (Katie), Mackenzie Ginther (Darrion), Cecelia Frechette, Bella Frechette, Riley Bruns (Logan), Layla Bruns, Colby Steinhofer (Jenni), Parker Steinhofer, Olivia Steinhofer (Phillip), Nathan Steinhofer, Danica Hendrickson, Lucy Bruns, Sadie Bruns and Anna Hull.  Ed and Shirley were preceded in death by Shirley’s husband, John Barcevich; son, John Bruns; along with all of Ed and Shirley’s siblings.  

Ed and Shirley are interred at Roselawn Memorial Park. A private Bruns bon voyage party will follow.

In the words of Shirley: “Please don’t mourn either of us - we have lived a full and long life and were blessed with great kids, grand kids and great-grandkids. We both stayed in relatively good health. What more can one ask for in a lifetime? Only the lottery perhaps.”  

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761