Nicholas Brunner

Nicholas Allen Brunner passed away suddenly on Sunday, May 16, 2021. Nick was born on January 6, 1971 in Wenatchee, WA to Duane and Dorothy Brunner. He spent his entire childhood in Cashmere attending preschool through high school in the Cashmere School District. He graduated from Cashmere High School in 1989 and had spent his four years of high school active in football, wrestling, baseball, FFA and making countless friends. After graduation, he went to Washington State University to study Horticulture in hopes of one day becoming a Fieldman. While at WSU he was a member of the SAE fraternity and became a life-long Coug. Nick spent a semester doing an internship in New Zealand and traveled extensively through New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and other surrounding islands. Once he returned, he graduated from WSU in 1994 with a double major in Horticulture and Entomology (as he would explain it "fruit trees and bugs"). Nick loved his time in Pullman and some of his favorite memories and stories he liked to tell came from his college life. From peanut night at Shakers to the rental on Whitman; good times at the frat or football games, even how the pick-up line "want to come see my bug collection" didn't work, he had nothing but great memories from WSU and could still recite his student ID number without hesitation. After graduation he moved back to the Wenatchee Valley and started his career in the fruit industry working for Skookum, Blue Bird and finally Columbia Fruit Packers where he has spent the last 21 years building strong, personal relationships with his growers while advising them on raising cherries and apples. Since that pick-up line from college didn't work, Nick took a leap of faith in June, 1997 by meeting a girl named Jennifer on a blind date. They met on a Thursday, he asked her out for that Friday and then Saturday, and after those three dates, they were a couple. He proposed on Valentine's Day, 1998 and they were married on August 8, 1998. Nick and Jenn made their first home in Wenatchee where they welcomed their daughter Shelby in April, 2000 and finally their son Colson in March, 2003. With their family complete, they started the search for a forever home and eventually settled in Cashmere in March, 2004. Raising their kids in Cashmere was very important to Nick and he was always so proud to have both his kids be Bulldogs. Nick never missed an event his kids were in and was their biggest supporter. He dedicated all of his free time to his family and found himself doing things like getting certified in pole vault safety, so Shelby could practice during the off season; catching thousands of Colson's snaps any time of the day, in any weather, with or without gloves and even driving the second CHS "cheer van" during basketball season for years. Not only did he support his own kids but every other kid who was participating. He coached youth baseball, soccer, football & wrestling and helped with apple judging for FFA. He set an amazing example for his own kids and all of Cashmere's youth as to what a supportive, loving and dedicated father and husband should be. His family loves to travel and have taken trips all over the US, Mexico, the Caribbean and Hawaii as recently as just over a month ago. So many memories have been built on these trips and the time they all had together exploring new places can never be replaced. Elk hunting with his lifelong friends and now his son was something he looked forward to every year. The mountains were his favorite place to be if he wasn't in an orchard. Nick will be remembered for his patience, happiness, kindness, quick smile and easy-going attitude. He always had time for everyone and truly cared. He loved his family, friends, job and this valley. Nick is survived by his wife and children Jenn, Shelby and Colson Brunner; his mother Dorothy Brunner; older brothers Ken (Tammy) Brunner, Matt (Janine) Brunner, Chris (Marci) Brunner and Adam (Nicole) Brunner; in-laws Gary and Cindy Kehl; brothers-in-law Russ (Lisa) Kehl and Adam (Sarah) Kehl; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and so many friends. He was proceeded in death by his father Duane Brunner and brother Steven Brunner. A celebration of Nick's life will be Sunday, May 30 at 11:00am at Cashmere High School, 329 Tigner Rd, Cashmere, WA. If you feel inclined to do so, charitable contributions can be sent in Nick's name to Cashmere Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 177, Monitor, WA 98836. Photos, videos and stories you would like to privately share with Nick's family can be sent to brunnerfamily8@hotmail.com Arrangments are being handled by Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee, WA.

Nicholas Brunner

January 6, 1971 - May 16, 2021