J. ROBERT BRUNNER

Sept. 17, 1918-Feb. 27, 2008

Dr. J. Robert Brunner was born in Royersford, Pa. to Howard S. and Nora Fox Brunner. Graduating from Royersford H.S. (now Spring-Ford H.S.) in 1936, he attended the Pennsylvania State University (B.S. ’40), The University of California, Davis (M.S. ’42) and Michigan State University (Ph.D. ’52). He served on active duty with the U.S. Navy (1942 -1946) and in the Naval Reserve, retiring with the rank of Commander in 1969.

Dr. Brunner served Michigan State University from 1946 to 1987, retiring as Professor Emeritus from the department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. He belonged to numerous professional organizations: The American Chemical Society, American Dairy Science Assoc., The Institute of Food Technologists, Sigma Chi Fraternity to name a few. He was awarded the prestigious Borden Award by The American Chemical Society for distinguished research in the chemistry of milk.

The Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences of the Pennsylvania State University also honored him with the Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2002.

Dr. Brunner was a 60-year member of Royersford Masonic Lodge No. 585 F&AM of Pennsylvania, and was a member of Peoples Church in East Lansing, Mich. He and his wife, the former Jeane Adams of Flint, Mich., moved to Green Valley full time in 1997 after having been winter visitors since 1976. They relocated from Williamston, Mich. where they resided on a 60-acre, mini-farm for 37 years.

Dr. Brunner is survived by his wife Jeane; son Thomas Robert (Deborah Mattson) of Sahuarita; daughter Barbara Jeane Sharpe of Elgin; and daughter Kathryn Elizabeth Juhas (Steve) of Grand Rapids, Mich. Also surviving are grandson Heath Christian Brunner (Rebecca Richardson) and two great-grandsons Sebastian and Oliver of Black Mountain, N.C. His second family consists of the many graduate students and post Doctoral associates who did advanced training with Dr. Brunner.

A memorial service will be held at the Green Valley Masonic Lodge #71, 18090 S. La Canada Dr. in Sahuarita on April 11, 2008 at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Michigan State University Development Fund-Acct No. 81-0681 in support of the J. Robert Brunner Endowment Fund or to Equine Voices Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc., PO Box 1685, Green Valley, AZ 85622. www.equinevoices.org