William J. Brundick Sr. (Bill) was born on August 5, 1927 in Pacific, MO.  He died peacefully with his family at his bedside on Saturday February 19, 2022.  He was 94 years young. 

Bill grew up in south St. Louis and attended Cleveland High School where he excelled in his studies and  graduating at the age of 17 in the spring of 1945.  He was very physically active and was quite the runner.  He loved swimming and diving (he did a back flip off of a high dive on his 65^th birthday).  

He enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 in September of 1945, too late to see any action in WWII, and received an honorable discharge within 12 months.  He was trained as a cook in the navy and used the skills he acquired there later in life…he made some great cheesecakes.   

Bill loved tinkering with mechanical devices, working on automobiles, building model aircraft, hunting, carpentry and more.  He built his house in south St. Louis County, doing all of the carpentry work himself.   He finished his home in August 1952 and lived there the next 69 years until two weeks before he died. He bought used autos, repaired them and sold them.  He built model airplanes and flew them. He built a 7-band radio from a kit.  He built an HO gauge model train layout. He could make or repair almost anything. 

Bill loved his three children and spent time playing and laughing with them.  He built a tree house for them, painted a swing set, made a prop for a school play, made toys for them, painted their bicycles, taught them how to ride bikes, swim, and more.  He encouraged them to read and stressed the importance of education.  He took them on vacations from Arizona to New York.  He helped them get started in life and he continued to help his children throughout their lives…sometimes helping with wiring a garage, repairing an auto, and more. 

Bill worked 41 years at Anheuser Busch starting in 1948 when the brewery was still privately owned.  He worked his first 10 years at AB as a laborer and had assignments at Grants Farm and what is now Busch wildlife area in addition to more traditional work at the brewery.  He worked his last 31 years at AB as a beer brewer…seven days a week, shift work.  He was proud of his work and his of his company. 

He had an incredible work ethic.  After a big snow, he would clear snow from the street from our home to Telegraph road, 0.7 miles, with several passes with his walking tractor fitted with a snow blade.  He would do this after working a full shift at the brewery.  

Bill was the life of the party.  A room would light up when Bill entered it with his warm smile, quick wit, and bawdy humor. He loved chatting with friends and relatives over a cold beer.  He tried to make people feel special. He had jokes for all occasions and could find humor in almost any situation.  

Bill had more than a little taste for adventure.  He was part of a group of four men that rented a 4-seater Cessna aircraft that they flew from St. Louis to the Bahamas.  He tried sky diving, hot air ballooning, rode in several sail planes, and he rode motorcycles. He had eight Honda motorcycles over his life and owned five of them at one time. He owned a Gold Wing.  He loved tinkering with them and polishing them almost as much as riding them.  He taught his sons to ride motorcycles and they rode with him. 

In his 50’s, Bill developed what would become a long term relationship with Betty Goeke, the sister-in-law of one of his old friends and neighbors.  Bill and Betty lived within a mile of each other.  They remained very close for the rest of his life. They traveled around the US and were always in daily contact. They enjoyed sharing a margarita or sipping Asti Spumante or just being together.  Bill became close to Betty’s family, too.  Betty was with Bill the day that he passed. 

Bill remained active and healthy throughout his life and mowed his half acre lawn through last fall.  He was mentally sharp and was a voracious reader.  He read 2 books each month on his kindle.  He “traveled the world” via his PC per web cams in remote locales.  He was technically savvy for a man his age and cleaned his PC of “cookies” daily. 

While his children helped him later in life, Bill remained quite independent doing household chores, cooking, laundry and more until he left his home for the last time.   He waxed his kitchen floor for what would be his last Christmas. 

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William Jacob Brundick and Leocadia (Lee) Heidenfelder Brundick, his sister Loretta Abeln (and her husband Roger) as well as their children Carol and Don, and his brother-in-law Robert Edmundson.  Loving father of Frank W. (Janet) Brundick, Linda Crites (nee Brundick), and William J. (Stacy) Brundick, Jr..   He is survived by his sister, Shirley Edmundson and by cousins, nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces.  

No services will be held.  He will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, attended by family.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, any contributions be donated to the charity of your choice.