Lawrence "Larry" Jerome Brunner

Lawrence "Larry" Jerome Brunner, 93, of Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio passed away peacefully on February 11, 2020. Born to Paul and Jeanette Brunner in Cleveland, Ohio on October 29, 1926, Larry attended and graduated from Cathedral Latin High School, Cleveland, Ohio. Larry and his wife, Annette, lived at Geneva-on-the-Lake for 69 years. As owner of the Brunner Fabric Company, Larry was well known throughout Ashtabula County and to the sewing community. He worked as the manager of the Brunner Dress Company, owned by his father Paul, beginning in 1949. Over the years he transitioned the business from dress wear to fabric and assumed the operation of the business in 1972. He was generous in his donation of fabric to churches, civic groups, and volunteer organizations. He cherished his title as “Rag Man”. He was proud of his service to the village of Geneva-on-the-Lake and served as a volunteer fireman, fire chief, auxiliary policeman, member of GOTL chamber of commerce and village council member. As a WWII Navy veteran, he was also proud of his service to his country and served six months off the coast of China. After retiring from the fabric business in 1988, Larry enjoyed refinishing furniture, wintering in Florida, fishing, visiting with his family, neighbors, and friends, and watching the boats and fisherman on Lake Erie from his sunroom. He was a faithful parishioner of Assumption Catholic Church in Geneva, Ohio since 1950. Larry was a loving husband and father. He is survived by; his wife of 69 years, Annette, of Geneva-on-the Lake, a sister Jean, and brother Joe, both of Florida, his two sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Barbara of Inverness, Florida and Kirk and Priscilla of Palm Harbor, Florida, and his daughter, Jennifer Brunner Hedrick, and son-in-law, Tate Hedrick of Harpersfield, Ohio. He has 7 loving grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Friends may call Tuesday, February 18, 2020 from 4-8 P.M at the Behm Family Funeral Home, 175 S. Broadway, Geneva, OH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 AM, Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at Assumption Catholic Church, 549 W. Main St., Geneva, OH. Final Resting Place will be St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Ashtabula. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Assumption Catholic Church, 549 W Main St, Geneva, OH 44041, Geneva-on-the-Lake Volunteer Fire Department, 4931 S Warner Dr, Geneva, OH 4404, or Hospice of Western Reserve, 5786 Heisley Road, Mentor, Ohio 44060. A special thanks goes out to the staff of Geneva Village Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the unending care and support they provided Larry and family members during his stay there. Online obituary and condolences may be viewed at www.behmfuneral.com