Brunk, David Kim (1957-1976)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 28 Oct 1976 p. 11

Birth date: 1957

text of obituary

DAVID KIM BRUNK

An abandoned baby was rescued in Seoul, Korea in 1967 by Pastor Kim, who gave the baby his name and brought him to the Holt Orphanage.

Floyd and Esther Brunk of Upland, Calif, had applied to the Holt Adoption Agency for a baby and they chose David Kim and formally adopted him when he was 14 months old and still in Korea. Five months later, in 1968, he was brought to America in a plane with 106 other babies and children. His new mother met the plane in Portland, Ore. and the family joyfully welcomed him upon his arrival in Upland.

The baby arrived malnourished, with a protruding tummy and many sores, but with love and care, he gained eight pounds in the first month. He grew up, active, mischievous and friendly to young and old. Many remember that when Grandpa Royer, over 90 years old, would come to church, four-year-old Kim would always march right down to the front after the service to shake hands with "Grandpa" and chat with him.

When he was 12 years old, Kim was about to have surgery on his feet. The evening before, Pastor Richer visited him in the hospital and talked with him about the way of salvation. That was an important time, and Kim was always thankful that he had a new peace with God when he went into surgery.

He attended Chaffey High School in Ontario, Calif., where he made many friends, sang in several special groups and played cello in the orchestra.

During his freshman year of high school he started attending a youth Bible study at "Green Pastures" in Pomona, and his life was changed by the Holy Spirit who brought him into a new relationship with Jesus as his Lord. This was the beginning of a real growing time.

He sang with his younger brother Dale and a friend, Randy Mayfield, for many youth groups, church services and service clubs. They called themselves "Shiloh." His talent for music developed and he was chosen to sing in the Southern California Honor Choir at the Los Angeles Music Center two consecutive years.

He joined the "Menno Choralaires,” directed by his father, when he was a freshman in high school, and enjoyed singing and playing the guitar with this group for five years. For one year he also sang with the smaller group in the "Choralaires" called "Obadiah."

Kim loved to drive, and one of the highlights of his life was the summer he drove to the East with his grandfather and brother just after he received his driver's license. They visited friends and relatives in the East, and attended a church conference in Virginia and a youth conference in Michigan to which Kim was a delegate.

He had teachers who urged him to use his music talents to make a name for himself. After thinking it through, he chose rather to use his musical ability for the Lord. He sang with the Continental Singers, a Christian group, for two summers on an evangelistic tour of the United States and several countries of Europe.

He chose to continue his education at Azusa Pacific College because he wanted to give all his life and talent to the Lord Jesus. At Azusa Pacific he became a member of the music ensemble called The Bridge, which has ministered in many churches and youth groups.

Kim was a natural leader in the Mennonite Youth Fellowship and was concerned for his church and each of his friends. He was always hungry for Bible study and sought it in various ways. One of the delights of his second tour with the Continental Singers this past summer was the depth of the Bible study and Scripture memorization they were led into. He had expressed a desire to some day become a leader and tour director with the Continental Singers.

Kim was stabbed to death by an unknown assailant at 11 o'clock Thursday night, Oct. 7, while practicing his piano lesson. His father and mother, Floyd and Esther Brunk, will miss him much, as will his brother Dale and sister Ruth. Also grandparents, J. Irvin and Ruth Brunk and daughter Leota were a vital part of Kim's life.

We each remember David Kim in many different ways, but everyone will agree on the depth of his commitment to Christ and the love that radiated from him.— By Dorothy Smoker.