Joseph "Joe" A. Bruns

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

He was born on October 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 August 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, 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, Karen (John) Clune of St. Henry, Christa (Rick) Heitkamp of Fort Recovery, Jim (Rachel) Tobe of Fort Recovery, Mike (Kim) Tobe of Portland, and Lori (Chad) Kaiser of Burkettsville; 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 1998-1999 State Runner-up basketball team and coaching his daughter 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 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, the Ohio Coaches Association, and was a board member for Wabash Communications.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 AM on Monday, August 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 livestreamed at https://fortrecoverycatholics.org/streamspot/

Guests may visit with Joe’s family on Sunday, August 27, 2023, from 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM and again on Monday, from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM at Brockman Boeckman Funeral Home, Fort Recovery. A Knights of Columbus prayer service will take place on Sunday at 5:45 PM at the funeral home.

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