Edmund Michael 'Mike' Brunet

MONONA- Edmund Michael Mike Brunet, age 69, of Monona, died on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010 at home, after a two year battle with prostate cancer. He was born in Prairie du Chien on March 31, 1941, the first born child of Edmund J. and Violet Elizabeth (Small) Brunet. He joined the USAF in 1959, immediately after high school and was stationed at Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska, before being transferred to Truax Field to finish out the final six months of his enlistment. While in Madison, he met his future wife, Carol Ann McNally, and they were married at St. Mary Catholic Church in Milton on Sept. 5, 1964. Following his honorable discharge from the USAF, Mike attended Brown Institute in Minneapolis, acquiring an FCC broadcasting license, and he was subsequently employed as an advertising salesman and weekend DJ for the radio station WXMT in Merrill and WJMC in Rice Lake. When the GI Bill became available, Mike enrolled at UW La Crosse, obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in 1971 and shortly thereafter, they headed for Anchorage, Alaska, where they resided until 1996. Mike worked for the Anchorage Times in advertising sales, and enrolled in the Master of Public Administration degree program at the University of Alaska, Anchorage campus, obtaining his MPA in 1978. Contact with instructors in this program led to employment with the Anchorage Borough (subsequently merged with the Municipality of Anchorage), and during his career worked at the Dept. of Health & Human Services; Dept of Community Planning & Development; and he retired as an Associate Planner in the Housing and Community Development Block Grant Program in 1996.He was 1976-1977 and 1983-1984 Chapter President for the Am. Society for Public Administration; and was the UAA Alumni Association President in 1982-83.Upon retiring, they returned to Wisconsin and settled in Monona. They have been members of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish since 1996, where Mike has served on the Vocations Committee since 2001. He is a member of KC Council 4586, and was Grand Knight from 2000-2002, obtaining the Star Council award for 2000-2001. He belongs to American Legion Post 501 in Madison and thoroughly enjoyed his membership with the Dane County Shamrock Club, being selected Irish Person of the Year in 2004. Hobbies include travel throughout the Untied States, Canada, Ireland, England and including special trips to France and Spain to visit a niece and nephew on a semester study abroad program. Since retirement, travel destination included visiting nieces and nephews, return visit to Quebec, Canada and scouting out snowbird destinations. He took his first music lesson on the guitar after obtaining his MPA at UAA, and continued his love of music with the banjo and ukulele. He was an avid reader, a great researcher, especially good at sports trivia, and with a quick wit, was always ready to debate- even on the topics of religion and politics. He maintained many friendships and could strike up a conversation with any stranger he met. Mike is survived by his wife of 46 years, Carol Ann Brunet on Monona; brothers, John Brunet of Prairie du Chien and Patrick Brunet of La Crosse; sister, Mary Alice (Ken) McKinney of Rockford, Ill. and their children, Michelle McKinney of Rockford, Ill., John (Martha) McKinney [Kate, Sean, Michael, Dyani & Jane] of Rockford, Ill. and Maureen McKinney [Nick & Alex] of Rockton, Ill.Surviving brothers-in-law, Thomas (Angie) McNally of Milton and their children, Kris (Greg) Meyer [Sam] of Whitewater, Jeff (Tonia) McNally [Emma & Owen] of Milton and Katie (Scott) Burns of Denver, Colo.; William J. (Kathy) McNally of Monona and their sons, Ryan McNally of Milwaukee and Patrick McNally of DePere; and sister-in-law, Janet (Mike) Sessler of Milton and their children, Greg (Therese) Sessler [Jonathon & Emily] of Oregon, Lynn (Jim Neitzel) Sessler of Oshkosh and Carol (Brian) Bruess [Tony & Grace] of St. Paul, Minn.He was preceded in death by his parents, Edmund J. and Violet (Small) Brunet; father and mother-in-law, William T. and Eleanor (Grady) McNally; brother-in-law, Kenneth McKinney; and infant great niece and nephews, Jamie, Joshua and Jacob McNally.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield Street, Monona, at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010 with Father Bart Timmerman officiating. Visitation will be at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010 and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Wednesday. Burial will take place at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Cemetery in Prairie du Chien, on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010, his final resting place was selected by Mike so that he will be forever facing his beloved Mississippi. The family wishes to thank Dr. Robert Boyle of the Dean East Clinic; Dr. Michael Zinda at Turville Bay; and the visiting staff of HospiceCare, Inc. for their wonderful care during Mikes illness. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, 5101 Schofield Street, Monona, WI 53716; Society of St. Vincent de Paul, P.O. Box 259686, Madison, WI 53725; or HospiceCare, Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711 Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, 5101 Schofield Street, Monona, WI 53716; Society of St. Vincent de Paul, P,O, Box 259686, Madison, WI 53725; or HospiceCare, Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711 Cemetery: Burial will take place at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Cemetery in Prairie du Chien, on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010, his final resting place was selected by Mike so that he will be forever facing his beloved Mississippi. Visitation: Visitation will be at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010 and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Wednesday. Service: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield Street, Monona, at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010 with Father Bart Timmerman officiating.