Joseph Bruns

Joseph “Joe” Alan Bruns, 53, of Fort Recovery, Ohio, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, at Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater.

He was born on Oct. 11, 1969, in Coldwater, to the late Dale “Whitey” and Marilyn (Kremer) Bruns.

Joe is survived by his wife of 29 years, Denise (Tobe) Bruns, whom he married on Aug. 20, 1994; his children, Chase (Kiah) Bruns of Fort Recovery, Emily Bruns of Toledo, Brandon Bruns of Fort Recovery and Jalyn Bruns of Fort Recovery; his siblings, Connie (Joe) Muhlenkamp of Bryant, Indiana, Chuck (Helena) Bruns of Maumee, Ohio, Bill Bruns of Fort Recovery, Mike (Lorraine) Bruns of Coldwater, Ohio, Lisa (Tom) Braun of Fort Recovery, Becky (Brian) Kunkler of Portland, Mark (Sara) Bruns of Fort Recovery, and Brenda (Doug) Kahlig of Fort Recovery; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bob and Jane Tobe of Fort Recovery; his in-laws, Brenda (Ted) Braun of Versailles, Ohio, Karen (John) Clune of St. Henry, Ohio, Christa (Rick) Heitkamp of Fort Recovery, Jim (Rachel) Tobe of Fort Recovery, Mike (Kim) Tobe of Portland and Lori (Chad) Kaiser of Burkettsville, Ohio; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Joe was a 1988 graduate of Fort Recovery High School. He then continued his education at Bowling Green State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in math education, and University of Dayton, where he earned his master’s degree in administration.

Joe began his teaching career in 1992 at Van Wert Middle School and Jay County High School. However, he returned home to Fort Recovery to teach high school math. Joe bled purple and white and was an avid supporter of all things Fort Recovery. During his 27-year career, Joe coached every sport at Fort Recovery, except swimming and cross country. Some major highlights of his career include being the head coach of the 1998-99 state runner-up boys basketball team and coaching his daughter Jalyn to a top-four finish at the 2021 state golf tournament.

In his free time, Joe enjoyed following and supporting his children in their activities, going golfing, rooting for the Cincinnati Bengals and Butler University basketball, and enjoying the outdoors while taking hikes. Joe also enjoyed announcing Indian football for Fort Recovery Radio. He was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church, the Fort Recovery Knights of Columbus and the Ohio Coaches Association, and was a board member for Wabash Communications.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, Fort Recovery, with Father Alexander Witt celebrating. Burial will follow in St. Peter Cemetery.

The funeral mass will be live-streamed online at fortrecoverycatholics.org/streamspot.

Guests may visit with Joe’s family on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, from 1 to 6 p.m. and again on Monday from 9 to 10 a.m. at Brockman Boeckman Funeral Home, Fort Recovery. A Knights of Columbus prayer service will take place on Sunday at 5:45 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be given to Everheart Hospice, 1350 N. Broadway St., Greenville, OH 45331, or the Cancer Association of Mercer County, P.O. Box 624, Celina, OH 45822.

Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting brockmanboeckmanfh.com.