Paul "Buck" Brunner

Mr. Paul David "Buck" Brunner, 81. of Middletown, passed away peacefully on November 25, 2016, at Kline House in Mt. Airy with his family by his side. He was the loving husband of Darlene Ann Wachter Brunner for 60 happy, wonderful years. The family will fondly share and love the many wonderful memories of his presence in their lives that time does not erase.

Born on March 6, 1935, he was the son of the late Clinton Joseph and Mae Delauter Brunner. Sports were his passion in high school.  After graduating from Middletown High School, he continued playing basketball at the Robert Tally Armory, but it was baseball that he played for many years. Every Sunday, he could be seen in his baseball suit playing catch behind the plate for the Heart of Maryland Harmony Baseball Team and later with the Tri-County Baseball Team at Yellow Springs. in 1955, he served three years in the Maryland National Guard in Frederick. He was an active member in his church (Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ) for 60 years. He was a long time member of the Middletown AMVETS.

After graduating from high school, he went to work for the Maryland State Highway Administration working on highway maintenance and snow removal. He retired in 1993 after 38 years service as Highway Maintenance Chief of Frederick County. His family was very proud of his dedication to a job he loved.

He was an avid hunter, fisherman and a life member of the Tuscarora Gun Club. Over the years, he hunted deer with his buddies at his cabin in West Virginia and also locally. He enjoyed watching deer and squirrels that came to his feeders at the back of his property. He was happy working outside maintaining the yard and garden. After working so many years in snow removal at work, he enjoyed riding his 4-wheeler clearing neighbor's driveways after a snow.

His life revolved around family. For many years family and friends would enjoy camping trips each summer to places on the water to enjoy fishing from his pontoon boat he owned. Our families enjoyed several great cruises together and the last great cruise included our grandchildren.

He was a proud grandfather of three and great grandfather of three. He was a devoted husband to his wife whom he affectionately nicknamed "Muggs". To this date, his grandchildren and great grandchildren call her Muggs. He loved the time spent with his sons and families for holidays, birthdays, Sunday dinners and just every day visits.

In addition to his wife of 60 years, he is survived by two sons: Paul Douglas Brunner and grandson Matthew and great granddaughter Maddison; Steve Dean Brunner and wife Peggy, granddaughter Ashley Barnette and husband Kyle (great grandchildren Lydia and Ezra) and daughter, Danielle Britt and husband Kevin; a sister, Kathleen Brandenburg, brother Kenneth Brunner and wife Sue and sister Sharon Simon and husband Bob; as well as sisters-in-law: Bonnie Brunner, Beverly Brunner and brother-in-law Earl Stine. In addition he leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by three infant siblings: Charles, James and Phyllis Brunner; four sisters: Jean Stine, Janice Peaslee, Shirley Smith and Carolyn Kidd; and two brothers: Robert Brunner and John Brunner.

The family will receive friends from 6-9 PM on Thursday, December 1, at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick where services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, December 2, with Rev. Barbara Daniel officiating. Interment will follow in Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Rt 15 N, Frederick

Memorial contributions may be made to the Evangelical Reformed Church Building Fund, 15 W. Church St., Frederick, MD 21701 or the Alzheimers Association, Western Maryland Chapter, 108 Byte Drive, Suite 103, Frederick, MD 21702. Arrangements are by Stauffer Funeral Home, Frederick. Online condolences may be expressed at staufferfuneralhome.com