Richard Nelson Brunner Jr.

Richard Nelson Brunner Jr, 73 passed away January 6,2024, at the Community Hospice Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring in Jacksonville, surrounded by his loving family. He was a gifted tradesman who provided painting, wallpaper, and cabinet refacing services for 45 years before retiring in 2013. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard Nelson Brunner Sr. and Jean Marie (Brown) Brunner, his son Matthew Scott Brunner, and his brother John Brunner.

Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Cynthia Brunner; children, Edward Brunner, Aaron Brunner, Jimmy Brunner, Diana Brunner, and Sarah Brunner ; brothers Gary Brunner (Hong Vi) and Steve Brunner, sisters Catherine Burkhardt (John) and Nancy Dols, and many other relatives and friends.

Rick had an unfailing love for his Catholic faith and until his diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer in 2020, he attended daily Mass in person, “the most important part of his day”. Even after his diagnosis, he would view Mass online daily. His love for the Eucharist and his unwavering faith inspired all those around him.

Rick was born in Washington, DC on December 1, 1950, and lived in the Rockville/Silver Spring Maryland area. He attended St. Catherine Laboure School where he was an altar server for daily mass and graduated from Robert E. Perry High School before joining the United States Marine Corps in 1962.  He served from 1969-1972 and his experiences developed a lifelong affection for the Marine Corps and their motto Semper Fi.

Rick was very athletic and even had an offer from the Washington Senators to tryout to play professional baseball, but he chose the military instead.  His children were also very athletic, and he spent many hours at the baseball and soccer fields watching them play the sports they loved.  He was also a camera enthusiast and took thousands of pictures of his children playing sports, at birthday parties, and when travelling.

While living in the Washington DC area, Rick provided painting and wallpaper services to many Senators and Congressmen. If you ever wanted to pick a color for a wall or to match upholstery, he was your man.  If you ask his children, they will say that the smell of fresh paint is a fond memory, as he was always changing the color of a room at home.  After moving to Florida, he changed professions and provided cabinet refacing services, but still did some painting/wall papering  on the side. He was truly a “jack of all trades” and was able to take care of most jobs around the house.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, February 1st at 11:00am at Holy Family Catholic Church, 9800 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville FL 32256 and interment will follow at 2:30pm at Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lanie Rd, Jacksonville FL 32218. In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Foundation of Community Hospice & Palliative Care ( https://thefoundationcares.org/give ) or the Patient Assistance Foundation of Cancer Specialists of North Florida ( www.pafcsnf.org/obituary-request ).