Alma L. Brunet

Alma L. Brunet, of Lake Bluff, Illinois passed peacefully at home in her sleep Saturday, October 20, 2012, at the awesome age of 93.

Born amidst the brome on a small farm in Colome, South Dakota, on March 21, 1919, to Philip and Josephine Musilek, Alma was raised with her sister Lydia and four brothers Willy, Johnny, Jimmy, and George. An insatiable hunger to learn compelled four-year-old Alma to follow her older sister Lydia to school one day, laying the cornerstone for a position as teacher in a local one room schoolhouse.

Once again following her sister, Alma headed east to take a position as a governess in Lake Forest, Illinois. It was at a local fish fry one evening that she met her future husband, Raymond Brunet. She'd attended with one of his friends but after meeting Ray, she thought he'd take her home instead. Ever the gentleman, Ray wouldn't cut in on one of his friends. The next day, however, was another story. Ray and Alma were married in 1942 and resided in Lake Bluff, Illinois, from 1956 to 2011.

Alma was a server at the Swedish Glee Club in Waukegan, Illinois, for much of her life. Hers was not a glamorous life, but it was full, and big, and beautiful. Her retirement years were filled with family, friends, sewing (she was a member of Lake Bluff Quilters), and being the greatest mom and gram ever. Health and happiness are intertwined and although time took its toll, Alma kept rolling until she simply ran out of steam.

Alma was preceded in death by her husband Ray, four brothers, sister, and son (Thomas Brunet). She is survived by her two daughters, Bonnie Brunet Latham (Mark) of White River Junction, Vermont, and Linda Brunet Verbeke of Overland Park, Kansas; five grandchildren: Brian Verbeke (Tracey), Kelly Heineke (Mark), Amber Verbeke (Robyn Miller), Kathryn Latham, and Miles Latham; and four great grand children, Kyle and Cameron Verbeke and Echo and Mont Miller.

There will be no funeral services at this time. It is the intention of the family to take Alma back home to South Dakota for burial in the local cemetery.