Colette C. Brunkan

Colette Claire Brunkan, age 88, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family on August 28th, 2025.

She was born on March 28th, 1937 to Harold and Freda (Dorn) Sanville in Milwaukee and is survived by her four children, Becky Marchan, Rick (Lisa Layera) Brunkan, Melissa Brunkan, and John (Betty Wang) Brunkan; and her 7 grandchildren, Madeleine, Isabel, Jack, Hannah, Parker, Josephine, Lucas; as well as her sister Judy, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Colette grew up in the village of Elm Grove, Wisconsin beginning at the age of 2 in the house built by her parents in 1939- the same house in which she passed her final years. She attended St. Mary’s grade school in the village of Elm Grove and Pius XI High School in Milwaukee. She lived in Elm Grove when it was still an agricultural and rural region and told many stories of roaming the fields and pastures with her sister and two neighbor boys. The proud scar on her wrist was evidence of one such adventure, or misadventure, involving a bull and a barbed wire fence as a child, which she would tell with equal parts shaking her head and smiling.

After high school, despite the protests from her mother and father, she decided to travel to Europe to see the larger world before beginning college, a choice that was seldom pursued by young women at that time. She traveled to Canada on a ship through the Great Lakes and eventually across the Atlantic to Germany where she worked in a hospital cleaning surgical instruments- “Not a glamorous job”, she would say, “but it provided a means and got me there in the end”. On the trip she met a young British woman who also worked at the hospital and they became instant companions and protectors, as well as lifelong friends.

Upon returning to Milwaukee, she completed her bachelor's degree in psychology at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and subsequently her Masters degree in child psychology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She eventually worked for 15 years as a child psychologist for Milwaukee public schools.

In 1963, she met her future husband, Richard (Dick) Brunkan at a Mass for the Catholic Alumni Club- also known as “Catch a Catholic Club!” They were married on December 26, 1964 and remained married for 60 years until Dick’s passing last year. She and Dick were blessed with four children who they raised in a house originally designed and built by an Austrian cabinet maker in Hartland Wisconsin. They spent many years modifying, expanding, and remodeling the home as a project they both enjoyed. After 20 years, they decided to move into a home on Pine lake, originally built in 1896, and on which they could continue their remodeling hobby.

Colette was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition, retinitis pigmentosa, as a young adult which gradually led to complete blindness in the later years of her life. She faced the diagnosis with admirable perseverance and courage seeking help even through experimental treatments in research centers in the United States as well as Moscow. Dick and Colette traveled to Moscow seven times in the 70’s and 80’s seeking treatment and made several close friends with the nurses and doctors there. On one trip through customs they were stopped and luggage was examined because they were bringing in 10 pairs of Levi blue jeans- luxurious gifts for the nursing staff in a time when there were ration lines for potatoes!

A highly trained pianist in her youth, Colette had a lifelong love of music. She became a longtime ticket holder and supporter of the Milwaukee symphony orchestra and religiously attended their concerts and shows with friends and her husband every chance she could. She also enjoyed collecting antiques, oriental rugs, and figurines, as well as travel- especially Europe. Dick joked after one trip to Germany, that they saw many impressive things in Bavaria and Colette brought half of it back with them!

Colette will be especially remembered for her warm hugs, wide smile, and the enjoyment she received from her family and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 12, 2025 at Saint Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church, W314N74N7462 Hwy 83 in North Lake, with a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. A livestream of the Mass can be accessed beginning 15 minutes prior on the following link: https://www.stteresaofcalcutta.org/

A private burial will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Elm Grove.

Memorials in Colette’s name may be made to The Center for DeafBlind Services of Milwaukee or an organization of your choice.