Lonna Vellene Bruner

Lonna Vellene Meyer Schweitzer Bruner was born July 7th 1940, on the Meyer home place, two miles and 1/4 of a mile south of Okarche, Oklahoma. She was the youngest of four daughters born to Rudolf Henry August and Margaret Wilhelmina ''Henrichs'' Meyer. Lonna was baptized July 28th, 1940 by Pastor Paul A. Hoyer, at the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Okarche, Oklahoma. Her baptismal sponsors were Velda Ellene Henrichs Wattson, Mertle Maass Meyer and Eldo Friedrich Otto Wojahn. On April 11th, 1954, Lonna reaffirmed her baptismal vows and was Confirmed by Pastor Paul A. Hoyer, at the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Okarche, Oklahoma. Lonna's Confirmation verse was Psalm 86 verse 11. After her High School graduation May 21st, 1958, she moved to Wichita, Kansas, with her first husband, who was in the United States Air Force. One son was born from this marriage. Michael Lawrence Schweitzer was born in England while the Schweitzer family were on military duty with the Air Force for three years.

Lonna began her working career as a teenager being a waitress in the Okarche cafes. She worked for Watkins Steel Co. in Wichita, Kansas during 1958 and 1959. Upon returning to the United States in 1962, the Schweitzer family was stationed at Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota. Lonna and family moved to Okarche, Oklahoma in 1963. Lonna was employed by attorneys in the Oklahoma City and Kingfisher area for many years. She also worked for Carter Chevrolet in Okarche, and received the Outstanding Employee Award from General Motors Acceptance Corporation in May of 1990. She was also recognized b the Chevrolet Motor Division as the third best employee in the nation for handling Incentive Programs.

She was an active member of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Okarche, Oklahoma. She taught Sunday School many years and was a member of the St. John's Lutheran Ladies Aid and the LWML Lamplighters. She was a member of the Oklahoma City Para-legal Association; Oklahoma State Sponsor for the Teenage Republicans (TARS); and was elected to the National Board of Directors of the Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ.

Lonna Vellene Meyer Schweitzer and Charles Wayne Bruner were united in marriage March 13th 1982, by Pastor Keith Maule at the Church of the Nazarene, Kingfisher, Oklahoma. Lonna and Charles celebrated the Renewal of their Marriage Covenant February 14th, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church, Alvarado, Texas. Pastor Gene Gurley officiated. With this marriage came three step children, John Wayne Bruner, Ruth Bereuter and James Richard Bruner.

From 1982 to the fall of 1998, Lonna and Charles made their home in the Okarche, Oklahoma community. They moved to Arlington, Texas on October 7th, 1998. They were active members at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church of Arlington, Texas. Lonna worked for WalMart over seven years and was awarded the Outstanding Employee of the Month award on several occasions before retiring September 10th, 2006.She and her husband moved during the fall of 2004 to an acreage north of Alvarado, Texas, dubbed the ''Lazy L Ranch.''

Lonna became a member of the First United Methodist Church in Alvarado, Texas on February 11th, 2007. She was active in Bible Class, the Piecemaker's Ladies Quilting group, Alvarado Garden Club, Alvarado Clio Club and the First United Methodist Women 's morning group, The FUMC Youth Prayer Pal Group as well as volunteering at the Helping Hands for Jesus. She was also a Board Member of the Alvarado Senior Citizen Center. During 2010 Lonna's health made it difficult for trips out of the house. She was the family historian and enjoyed many crafts, especially ceramics, knitting Afghans and making quilts for her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Lonna died on Thursday, August 26th, 2021 at the age of 81 years old. She is survived by her husband Charles Wayne Bruner, of the home; and her son, Michael and wife JanetLee, of Alvarado, Texas. Step-children are John and wife Molly Bruner of Grand Junction, Colorado; Natalie and husband Bryce Bereuter of Kansas City, Missouri; and James and wife Karen Bruner of Millington, Michigan; as well as three grandchildren, eight step grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. 

Grandchildren:

Jeromy M. Schweitzer, and wife Brittany of Hills AFB, Utah. Tawnya M. Schweitzer Wooten Matlock, and husband Drew of Alvarado, Texas. Steven L. Schweitzer and wife Jacqueline of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Dezarae' N. Lopez and John Roberts, of Weatherford, Texas. Margaux and Husband Daniel McElreath, of Jackson, Missouri. Anna Bereuter, of Kansas City, Missouri. Ian Bereuter, of Kansas City, Missouri. Sarah Marie Bereuter of Kansas City, Missouri. Lydia Bruner, of Millington, Michigan. Alexis Bruner, of Millington, Michigan. And Gregory Bruner of Grand Junction, Colorado.

Lonna is also survived by her three sisters, Laurnell E. Lenz, Florene M. and husband Kenneth Tipton; and Verilea E. and husband Gerald Gleichman; all of Okarche, Oklahoma. Lonna is preceded in death by her parents, five brothers-in-law; George Lenz, Leonard Cox; Russell Dunham, Sterling Williams and Robert Faust, one nephew; Steven Lenz, and one grandson; Payton Matlock. 

Visitation with the family of Lonna will be at Clayton Kay Vaughan Funeral Home on 200 E. Patton St. Alvarado, Texas from 5:00PM to 8:00PM on Wednesday September 1st, 2021. Funeral Service will be held at Clayton Kay Vaughan Funeral Home as well on Thursday, September 2nd, 2021 at 10:00AM with committal to follow at Glenwood Cemetery in Alvarado, Texas.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the music department of the First United Methodist Church in Alvarado or to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

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