John Wesley Bruner

JOHN WESLEY BRUNER July 12, 1930 – May 31, 2024

John Wesley Bruner, age 93, passed away on Friday, May 31, 2024 at Oak Leaf Village Senior Assisted Living Facility in Sylvania, Ohio. John was born on July 12, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan to John and Helen Bruner.  From an early age, John was active, athletic and enjoyed playing sports, especially baseball.  Because of work responsibilities, John was unable to engage in school athletics but decided to get involved in boxing which he could attend in the evenings.  John ran 5 miles to and 5 miles from practice every day in order to participate in that activity and believed that it made him stronger.  After graduation from high school, John immediately enrolled in the service, joining the Navy boxing team which he continued throughout his military career.  In the service, John was a radio control man, translating messages through morse code.  John served in the Korean War and had many exciting adventures aboard his ship, the Duxbury Bay.  He traveled to many countries, collecting experiences, souvenirs and stories to tell.   After his discharge from the Navy, John joined the Detroit Police Department.  John was noteworthy, having several newspaper articles written about him crediting his bravery and heroic acts, “Top Gun Lowers the Boom”. John was always interested in aviation and began taking flying lessons shortly after joining the police force. John continued on to earn his instructors license and finally a professional pilot’s license which allowed him to leave the Detroit Police Department and pursue a career in aviation full time.  John flew for many companies transporting freight, top executives and celebrities.  John was the personal pilot for two 60’s rock bands: Three Dog Night and Crosby, Stills and Nash and as you might imagine, collected another set of great stories. Eventually, John joined Wright Airlines and rose through the ranks to become a Captain of Wright Airlines.  That airline that started with so much promise, fell on hard times and eventually went bankrupt and after transferring from Detroit to Cleveland, John made the decision to leave aviation and begin a new career later in life.   John joined the Equitable Life Association beginning as a salesman and retiring as district manager. All the while, John continued to fly private air crafts, and continued to collect some good stories. Getting tired of the cold weather, John and Rosemary, retired to Florida and John began to work on his golf game.  On the golf course John encountered an alligator and was bitten by a snake after his ball landed in the rough. On a better occasion, John managed to hit a “hole in one” and was presented with a plaque he continued to remain very proud of. John and Rosemary enjoyed many visits from friends and family, most enjoyably, his 3 grandchildren.  John and Rosemary eventually returned to the Toledo area to be closer to their family in the later stages of life.  John’s wife, Rosemary passed away last year and at that time he joined the Oak Leaf Village Senior Assisted Living Community where he was cared for by his family and the wonderful care team at Oak Leaf Village /The Grove.  John is survived by his daughter, Julie Knapp and beloved grandchildren: Lucy, Adam and Emily Knapp.

Please join us as we celebrate John’s life on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at Church 3Twenty One, 5845 Centennial Road, Sylvania OH 43560 Beginning at 11:00 AM.  We will enjoy a celebration of life ceremony followed by a light lunch and a time of visiting and sharing stories to honor John’s life.  Online condolences to reebfuneralhome.com

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