Obituary for Michele Brungardt
Michele Ann Brungardt, 58, of Lansing, passed away Monday, Aug. 4, 2020, at her home with her husband and children by her side. She was born April 22, 1962, at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, Calif., the daughter of Bob and Jeanie (Harnish) Lawrence.
Michele spent most of her childhood in the Salt Creek Valley area in Leavenworth County. She graduated as Valedictorian from Pleasant Ridge High School in 1980. Soon after, she began working at Fort Leavenworth. Michele retired in January 2018 after 36 years of dedicated service to the United States Army as a civilian at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. In her most recent position, she served as the Administrative Officer, U.S. Army Force Management Support Agency.
She was a lifelong member of St Joseph Catholic Church, having served as the Parish organist, a member of the Liturgy, Evangelization and Parish Directory Committees, chairman of the annual bazaar committee for several years and as an Altar Society member. Her unwavering faith saw her through many challenging times.
Michele had a passion for music that she generously shared with others throughout her life. She taught piano lessons and was active in the Leavenworth Community band for many years. She also played the organ at Immaculate Conception-St. Joseph Parish for the past 42 years. Michele believed music holds an amazing ability to speak to our hearts and minds and is a beautiful vessel of prayer.
Michele was an enthusiastic band mom, providing meals, snacks and encouragement for the band program at Lansing High School for many years. After retirement, Michele was able to share her love for music when she found her dream job as the choir accompanist at Lansing Middle School. She was able to share her love of music and work in the same building as her husband Kerry. Michele said the students at LMS gave her a reason to get up in the morning and provided a brief respite from cancer.
Throughout her own struggle with cancer, she reached out to many others affected by the disease, providing a source of strength and encouragement to them and their families. Her contagious smile and generous spirit lifted many hearts.
On June 6, 1987, Michele married Kerry Nick Brungardt in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Leavenworth. They were married for 33 years and shared an immense love for each other.
Michele is survived by her husband; two sons, Nick Brungardt of Carbondale, Kan. and Joe Brungardt of Lansing, Kan. She is also survived by her mother, Jeanie Lawrence of Leavenworth; brother, Mike (Tara) Lawrence of Fallbrook, Calif.; and sister, Patty (David) Scharinger of Leavenworth.
She was preceded in death by her father, Bob Lawrence; father-in-law, Donald Brungardt; and mother-in-law, Lilyota Brungardt.
Visitation beginning with the rosary will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with Fr. Glenn Snow, O.Carm. and Fr. David Simpson as co-celebrants. Due to COVID 19, there is a limit of 75 guests, masks will be required at the church and the funeral mass will be live streamed on the Immaculate Conception-St. Joseph Church Parish Website and Facebook page. Burial will follow at Saint Lawrence Cemetery in Easton, Kan. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church or The Lions Pantry at Lansing Middle School. (Make checks payable to Lansing Middle School).
Michele spent most of her childhood in the Salt Creek Valley area in Leavenworth County. She graduated as Valedictorian from Pleasant Ridge High School in 1980. Soon after, she began working at Fort Leavenworth. Michele retired in January 2018 after 36 years of dedicated service to the United States Army as a civilian at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. In her most recent position, she served as the Administrative Officer, U.S. Army Force Management Support Agency.
She was a lifelong member of St Joseph Catholic Church, having served as the Parish organist, a member of the Liturgy, Evangelization and Parish Directory Committees, chairman of the annual bazaar committee for several years and as an Altar Society member. Her unwavering faith saw her through many challenging times.
Michele had a passion for music that she generously shared with others throughout her life. She taught piano lessons and was active in the Leavenworth Community band for many years. She also played the organ at Immaculate Conception-St. Joseph Parish for the past 42 years. Michele believed music holds an amazing ability to speak to our hearts and minds and is a beautiful vessel of prayer.
Michele was an enthusiastic band mom, providing meals, snacks and encouragement for the band program at Lansing High School for many years. After retirement, Michele was able to share her love for music when she found her dream job as the choir accompanist at Lansing Middle School. She was able to share her love of music and work in the same building as her husband Kerry. Michele said the students at LMS gave her a reason to get up in the morning and provided a brief respite from cancer.
Throughout her own struggle with cancer, she reached out to many others affected by the disease, providing a source of strength and encouragement to them and their families. Her contagious smile and generous spirit lifted many hearts.
On June 6, 1987, Michele married Kerry Nick Brungardt in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Leavenworth. They were married for 33 years and shared an immense love for each other.
Michele is survived by her husband; two sons, Nick Brungardt of Carbondale, Kan. and Joe Brungardt of Lansing, Kan. She is also survived by her mother, Jeanie Lawrence of Leavenworth; brother, Mike (Tara) Lawrence of Fallbrook, Calif.; and sister, Patty (David) Scharinger of Leavenworth.
She was preceded in death by her father, Bob Lawrence; father-in-law, Donald Brungardt; and mother-in-law, Lilyota Brungardt.
Visitation beginning with the rosary will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with Fr. Glenn Snow, O.Carm. and Fr. David Simpson as co-celebrants. Due to COVID 19, there is a limit of 75 guests, masks will be required at the church and the funeral mass will be live streamed on the Immaculate Conception-St. Joseph Church Parish Website and Facebook page. Burial will follow at Saint Lawrence Cemetery in Easton, Kan. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church or The Lions Pantry at Lansing Middle School. (Make checks payable to Lansing Middle School).