William John Brunner

William John Brunner, affectionately known as Old Wild Bill, age 94, of Warrens, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on March 11, 2026, at Crestview Nursing & Rehabilitation in New Lisbon, Wisconsin. Born on October 13, 1931, in New Lisbon, he was the eldest son of Melford C. and Selma H. (Nelson) Brunner. The family moved to Wauwatosa and later Milwaukee when he was a boy. He worked as a soda jerk at PJ’s Drug Store, graduated from West Division High School in 1949, and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951.

In 1953, Bill married Betty Eleonora Schmidt. Together they raised eight children: Daniel (Barb) of Russell, Minnesota, Thomas, William, Russell (Linda) of Eagle, Wisconsin, Catherine (Charles Walters) of Milton, Wisconsin, Charles of Warrens, Wisconsin, Martha of Lyons, Wisconsin, and Betty May. He retired from Caterpillar Tractor in Milwaukee at age 55 and devoted many happy years to his passion for collecting and restoring vintage guns and ammunition. An avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting, fishing, shooting, and taking long drives with his family in search of a good cheeseburger. Above all, he cherished time spent with his children and took great pride in passing along life lessons during those outings.

Bill is survived by his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Sharon (Carl) Cornehls of South Milwaukee, Marian Laub of Cudahy, and Sami (Tom) Mitchell of West Allis, along with many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Betty, sons William and Thomas, daughter Betty May, grandsons Steven and John, his parents, brother Melford “Butch,” sister Karen (Gordon) Buntrock, and brother Daniel.