Rita Annette Brunner, age 82 of Muskego, formerly of Monroe, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Friday March 15, 2019 at St. Luke’s Medical Center. Rita was born on August 24, 1936 to Edward D. and Beatrice B. (Anderson) Mulligan in Monroe, WI. She married Richard P. “Dick” Brunner on January 13, 1957 in Monroe, WI.
After getting married, Rita joined Dick in Kodiak, Alaska, where he was stationed in the Navy. Dick and Rita returned to Monroe to take over the Junction House Tavern in 1958, where they lived and worked together until 1974. They later built and operated Leisure Lanes. Rita went on to work at Advance Transformer for 21 years. In 2011, she moved to Tudor Oaks in Muskego, WI to be closer to her children. Throughout her life, Rita’s greatest joy was spending time with her children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, and family.
Rita is survived by her son Jeffrey (Maria) Brunner of New Berlin, WI; daughter Jodi Brunner of West Allis, WI; grandsons Benjamin (Lara) Brunner and Matthew Brunner both of Chicago, IL; five siblings: Darlyne Daley of Janesville, WI, Verna (Jim) Clark of Rockford, IL, Francis “Frank” (Lou) Mulligan of Safety Harbor, FL, Tom (Kate) Mulligan of Madison, WI, and Jim Mulligan of Janesville, WI; in-laws, Linda Mulligan of Janesville, WI and Mary Ann Brunner of Waukesha, WI; and countless nieces, nephews, other family, and close friends.
Rita is preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Richard P. Brunner; father Edward D. Mulligan; mother, Beatrice B. Mulligan; infant grandson Jeffrey Brunner; siblings: Edward “Claire” Mulligan, Evelyn “Sis” McGinley, Wayne Mulligan, Juanita “Toodie” Zweifel, William “Bill” Mulligan, and Royal and Vivian Mulligan in infancy; and in-laws, Julia Mulligan, Spencer McGinley, George Daley, Terri Mulligan, Duane Zweifel, and John Brunner.
Visitation will be from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm Thursday, March 21, 2019 at Shriner Hager Gohlke Funeral Home, 1455 Mansion Dr., Monroe, WI. Funeral services will immediately follow at 12:30 at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenwood cemetery.
Condolences may be sent at: shriner111.com
