Philip James “Phil” Brunkhorst 1940 - 2016

JANSEN, BRUNKHORST, PARROTT

Posted By: Connie Swearingen - volunteer (email)
Date: 3/28/2016 at 00:20:08

Sioux City Journal
28 February 2016

Philip James “Phil” Brunkhorst, 75, died peacefully at the family home in Sioux City on Thursday, February 25, 2016 after a brief struggle with cancer.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel with Gordon Quitt officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Online condolences may be given at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Phil was born September 11, 1940 in Red Wing Minnesota to G. Edward and Harriet (Jansen) Brunkhorst. He was raised on the family farm in Flower Valley and the family later operated the Goodhue County Poor Farm.

Phil graduated from Red Wing High School in 1958. He married Margaret Elizabeth “Peggy” Parrott on July 23, 1960 in Lake City, MN. Phil and Peg remained married until her death in 2009.

Phil worked in various auto body shops in Red Wing, Lake City, and Rochester, MN before going to work for Di-Acro Corp in Lake City. After briefly living in the Chicago suburbs, Phil and Peg and the family settled in Sioux City in 1974 where Phil worked for All Power Inc.

In 1978, Phil and Peg started Elastomer Engineering in Sioux City, and operated it until his retirement in 2004. He held patents on several items that Elastomer manufactured.

Phil and Peg traveled around the world, visiting Europe, Australia, and Africa.

Phil was an avid fisherman and outdoors man. He hunted and fished all over the world. He was active in many outdoor groups and a co-founder of River City Anglers.

Phil had a lifelong love for hunting and firearms, and was a State Champion Trap shooter in Iowa.

In his retirement, Phil lived at the family cottage in Springfield, SD until his returned to Sioux City for health reasons.

In the later years of his life, he was a friend of Bill W.

Phil is survived by his three sons, Kevin and Lesa Banks Brunkhorst of Antigonish, Nova Scotia and Westfield, IA; Joseph Brunkhorst and his special friend Teesha Morgan of Sioux City; and David and Kristine Brunkhorst of Sioux City; grandsons Michael Brunkhorst of Sioux City and Stephen Brunkhorst and his special friend Aleashya Bieler of Sioux City; brother Edward (Elaine) Brunkhorst of Mesa, AZ, and sister Barbara Mullaney of Red Wing, MN and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Peggy, his parents, and a brother John Brunkhorst.