Brunk, Truman H. (1931-2010)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2010 Oct 18 p. 24

Birth date: 1931

text of obituary:

Former EMU campus pastor dies

By Eastern Mennonite University staff

HARRISONBURG, Va. — Truman H. Brunk, a former campus pastor at Eastern Mennonite University, died oct. 8 at Rockingham Memorial Hospital. He was 79.

Brunk joined the EMU faculty in 1965 and served as campus pastor 12 years. he was chair of the renovation committee for major renovations to Lehman Auditorium in the mid-1970s.

Brunk will be remembered by many for his leadership in the "miracle library drive" of early December 1969, working with EMU students who raised $111,000 in four days of fundraising to rescue the threatened building project. The Sadie Hartzler library was completed and dedicated in the fall of 1971.

"Truman Brunk was a very special brother among us, highly regarded by faculty and students for his gracious understanding and caring spirit," said Myron S. Augsburger, who became EMU president in 1965.

A 1964 EMU graduate, Brunk went on to earn a master of divinity degree from Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 1969.

After his service at EMU, Brunk served as pastor at Akron (Pa.) Mennonite Church; Blooming Glen (Pa.) Mennonite Church; Warwick River Mennonite Church, Newport News; as associate pastor at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church; and as interim pastor at Neffsville Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pa.; and Landisville (Pa.) Mennonite Church.

He was the author of two books of stories growing out of 40 years of pastoring and mentoring — That Amazing Junk-Man (2007) and The Singing Junk-Man (2010), published by Cascadia Publishing House.

Brunk is survived by his wife of 58 years, Elizabeth (Betty) Shenk Brunk; a daughter, Kathleen Brunk Isaacs of Morrisville, N.C.; a son, Donald Wayne Brunk of Souderton, Pa.; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Evelyn Hertzler of Newport News and Sandra Steiner of Harrisonburg.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2010 Nov 1 p. 5

text of obituary:

A pastor bigger than life

VIRGINIA HAM

Jim Bishop

Truman H. Brunk of Harrisonburg, Va., was imposing in stature, with a heart that beat with rhythmic passion for life, for his Lord and for the many people whose lives he touched over the years.

Truman, only recently retired from many years of ministry and mentoring, somehow managed to uncover the positive in just about every situation and person he encountered. he was an encourager to many, including me.

I had just finished reading Truman's first book, That Amazing Junk-Man, released in 2007, and was about to start his newly published sequel, The Singing Junk-Man, when word came of his passing the morning of Oct. 8 as we were heading into a busy homecoming weekend at my workplace, Eastern Mennonite University. At age 79, Truman had a homecoming of his own.

While Truman was gentle and reflective in spirit, his speech carried a ring of authority and insightfulness. I seldom heard him raise his voice, either in anger or to make his point when speaking one-on-one or from a pulpit.

Truman relished "fleshing out" the crux of an issue and offering practical ways to deal with it, growing out of years of pastoral ministry and counseling, one major portion of it at EMU, where he served as campus pastor from 1965 to 1974. I benefited from two years in that role my junior and senior years of college there.

Truman provided the spark that ignited the "miracle library drive" of early December 1969, working with EMU students who raised $111,000 in four days of fund-raising to rescue the building project.

Anna and I returned to Harrisonburg in the summer of 1971 to being working here. it wasn't long before we found a second home with the large and lively student group led by Truman that met Sunday mornings in the EMU chapel, before it was renovated and named Lehman Auditorium. I worked with him on the student church planning committee for nearly two years.

Truman was adept at bridging whatever "don't-trust-anyone-over-30" generation gap that might have existed. His down-to-earth messages employed a conversational style, laced with anecdotes that seemed to connect with diverse audiences.

Truman went on unwrap his ministry gifts in a series of congregational settings — Akron (Pa.) Mennonite Church, Blooming Glen (Pa.) Mennonite Church; Warwick River Mennonite Church, Newport News, Va.; and as associate pastor at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church. With his loving spouse, Betty, they served as interim pastors at Neffsville Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pa.; and Landisville (Pa.) Mennonite Church.

When my dad was on his deathbed in February 1998, Truman, then on the pastoral team at Blooming Glen where my parents attended, came to the house and in his tender yet commanding manner ministered to our family.

We helped Dad move to his favorite chair in the living room, surrounded him as we sang several hymns and choruses, and then joined hands as Truman committed Dad to the care of our loving Lord. At 8:45 the next morning Dad took several deep gasps and died peacefully at home, where he wanted to be.

Truman and Betty expressed interest often in the activities of we four Bishop brothers, and i was the frequent beneficiary of messages of affirmation for this column and other writings.

Etched in my mind is an image of Truman extending his arm like he was handing you an envelope containing some valuable item, and saying, "Man, that's beautiful!"

Truman, you were one big beautiful person. I'll miss you.

Jim Bishop is public information officer at Eastern Mennonite University.