Erwin Breunling

Erwin O. “Brit” Breunling, 83, of St. Joseph, passed away peacefully, Thursday, February 23, 2012 at Lakeland Continuing Care Center, St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 11:30 A.M. Monday at Grace Lutheran Church, 404 E. Glenlord Rd., St. Joseph. Military Rites will follow conducted by the North Berrien Military Rites. Friends may call beginning at 10:30 A.M. Monday at the church. Private burial will take place at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church. Those wishing to sign Brit’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Brit was born May 3, 1928 in St. Joseph to Jacob & Amelia (Weimann) Breunling. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1946. Brit served his country in the US Army during the post WWII occupation of Japan. Upon returning from the war, he managed Barlow’s Laundry Facility in Niles for many years, and in 1967, gained employment with Whirlpool’s St. Joseph Manufacturing Division, retiring as division dispatcher after many years of service. Following retirement, Brit worked as a funeral assistant for Kerley & Starks Funeral Home and Starks & Menchinger Funeral Home. On June 26, 1954, he married the former Georgietta “Getta” Schiman in St. Joseph. Brit was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in St. Joseph where he served as Sunday School teacher and an usher. In his spare time, he enjoyed tending to his house and yard, playing golf, spending time with his family, and as much time as possible on the St. Joseph piers fishing for perch. Brit is survived by his wife Getta; two sons-Randy (Carla) Breunling of San Jose, CA, Mike (Debbie) Breunling of Wausau, WI; two grandchildren-Kendra & Kyle Breunling; and several nieces & nephews including locally Steve & Kay Breunling. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers-Alfred, Emil “Ace”, & Herb Breunling, sisters Eleanor Schuhknecht & Martha Council. He will be lovingly remembered as a kind and caring husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, and will be deeply missed. May he rest in peace.