Johanna Brunty

Johanna Barbara Zenau Brunty age 77 of Bellingham, WA passed away from complications related to Parkinson’s disease on May 5, 2013.

She was born December 3, 1935 in Wildbahn, Militsch, the Silesia area of Germany now located in Poland. She was preceded in death by her parents Hermann Zenau and Auguste Rostalski Zenau also of Wildbahn, Germany, her sisters Irma Allworth of Montana, Erna Prather of Florida, Elfriede Koy of Berlin, Germany, and brother Kurt Zenau of Erdmannhausen, Germany.

Johanna enjoyed sharing stories of her childhood in Germany, growing up with her closest-in-age brother, Hermann, on the farmland they occupied, and gathering mushrooms and blueberries from the nearby forest land where her father, a woodcutter had once cut wood. Although there were many dangers and hardships during WWII, she enjoyed studying the history of those times and recounting her experiences as a young refugee at the age of 9 years old.

Johanna attended a school in Lobinstein, Germany to become a preschool teacher, and later obtained her GED in Lacey, WA. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1959, and became a U.S. citizen in 1973. She and her family moved frequently during her ex-husband’s military career and she and her children eventually settled in Olympia, WA in 1973. Johanna was employed as a housekeeper at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia for more than 25 years before taking a medical retirement in 2000. She moved to Correll Park in Ferndale, in 2003, and to Highgate Senior Living in Bellingham, the fall of 2011. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Ferndale until her health declined.

She enjoyed the polka, and folk-dancing, hiking with friends and grandchildren, camping and beach combing, and tending to her flower garden. She loved to tell stories of her childhood and German heritage, sing German songs, and play the harmonica. Her retirement dream was to spend time hiking in the beautiful northwest with her grandchildren and friends. Her greatest disappointment was that she lacked the health to do so.

Johanna had a great sense of humor and will be remembered for her easy laugh, kind heart, and love for her family. Favorite family times include sunny day BBQ’s surrounded by family. Never one to miss a family gathering she brought along her special diet needs and her favorite wine a bottle of Vouvray to share. Johanna was a dedicated and loving mother and grandmother and a faithful friend, and has left those who knew her with many cherished memories.

She is survived by daughter, Jeanette (Jeanie) G. Brumley and son-in-law, Pete Brumley of Ferndale; daughter Jo Bronte of Everett; three grandsons, Gordon Bowman of Tacoma; Hans Brumley of Fife; and Hayden Brumley of Ferndale. In addition, two grandchildren: Hannah Brumley of Fife; and a great-grandson due June 1st in Ferndale; a sister Elli Patzelt of Rochlitz, Germany; and brother Hermann Zenau, and sister-in-law Kate, of Langenchursdorf, Germany; as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family plans a private memorial service in July in which family will gather to scatter her ashes along a scenic Whatcom county trail. A memory book is also being constructed and will include the treasured memories of family, friends and neighbors who wish to share.

A special thank you to the caring staff of Highgate Senior Living and Whatcom Hospice. We are grateful to each one who so generously gave a personal touch that brought joy to Johanna’s soul while in your care.