Galen R. Brunk

Galen R. Brunk, 63, died peacefully at home on May 7, 2014. He was born November 29, 1950 in Lindsborg, Kansas to Eugene Brunk and Helen Smith Brunk. He graduated from Wichita State University in 1976 with an M.S. in Chemistry. He worked in pancreatic cancer research in Omaha, Nebraska at the Eppley Cancer Institute. He then moved to Fort Collins where he worked for Fermenta Animal Health. For the last 15 years, he was a Research Associate as head of the Weed Laboratory for the Bioagricultural & Pest Sciences Department at Colorado State University.

Galen is survived by his wife of 41 years, Debbie Brewer Brunk, and their two beautiful daughters and their families: Allison Fivecoate, her husband, Josh, and their sons, Jake and Jesse of Wellington, Colorado; and Lisa Jensen, her husband, Scott, and children, Zach and Kaylee of Thornton, Colorado.

Galen and his family came to Colorado for family vacations when he was growing up and he loved those trips. He always wanted to live in Colorado and was thrilled when he was offered a job in Fort Collins. Galen often took his family to the mountains to hike and enjoy the beauty. He also liked to take his friends on hikes he had discovered. Many friends have shared about hikes they have taken because Galen took them there first or told them about special places to go.

Galen & Debbie's favorite place to visit was Paris, France. Galen loved the history and the museums of Paris. They also visited the Normandy coast and were able to tour the American cemetery on September 11, 2002. Every grave had an American flag and the walkway was covered with flags from around the world. It was a very humbling and inspiring experience.

Galen truly loved his grandchildren and his one disappointment was that he would not get to see them grow up.

In lieu of flowers, Galen requested that donations be made to Mountain States Children's Home, P. O. Box, Longmont, Colorado 80502.