Gene W. Brunner, 87, of Mendota, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family on June 21, 2024.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Church, Mendota with Father Jeff Windy officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. in the church. Burial will be at St. Vincent's Cemetery in LaSalle. Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota is assisting the family.

Gene was born March 6, 1937 in Mendota to Karl and Estella (Liddick) Brunner. He grew up in Mendota and graduated from Mendota High School in 1958. He then joined the United States Army and served his country from 1960-1962. Gene married Maryann Pohar in 1978. He was a kind and caring family man to his wife, daughter Kimberly and his extended family of grandchildren, great grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews.

He worked as a mechanic then spent most of his career at Black Brothers in Mendota, where he retired after 37 years of service. Gene was a member of Holy Cross Church in Mendota. Those who knew Gene knew he had the gift of telling a great story. He loved to tinker with anything mechanical and built three homes. He also loved the Chicago Cubbies. He will be deeply missed but is finally at peace.

Gene is survived by his wife of 46 years Maryann Brunner; a daughter Kimberly (Kenneth Mersman) Cleary (from his previous marriage); four grandchildren Tanya Cleary, Tatum (Nick) Glidewell, Trista (Randy) Riveland and Brandin Cleary; ten great grandchildren, Olivia, Maddox, Estella, Ryder, Addysen, Kinzlee, Jayce, Anders, Eliza and JazLynn; sister Janet (Clifford) Schmitt; 3 sisters-in-law, Jean (Robert) Ficek, Barbara Pohar and Jo Grabowski; brother-in-law Frank (Carol) Pohar and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws Josephine and John Pohar, Sr., two brothers Robert Brunner and Harry Brunner, 3 brothers-in-law, John Pohar, Raymond Swietek and Clarence Grabowski, 2 sisters-in-law, Clara Brunner and Helen Swietek and one grandson Jimmy Cleary.

Memorials may be directed to Holy Cross Church, Mendota Area Senior Services or Fisher House in Maywood, Illinois. Online condolences may left at www.merrittfh.com