September 21, 1936 - October 23, 2021
Joan Brundage, 85, of Lehigh, died Oct. 23, 2021, at her home. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 29, at the Lehigh United Methodist Church, 386 Spencer Hill Street, Lehigh, with Pastor Phillip Berger officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Oc. 28, at the Historic Bruce Funeral Home, 923 1st Avenue South, Fort Dodge. Interment will take place at West Lawn Cemetery in Lehigh. Services will be livestreamed via our Historic Bruce Funeral Home Facebook page. Memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.brucesfuneralhome.com.
Evelyn Joan Alexander was born Sept. 21, 1936, in Algona, the daughter of Arthur Bradley and Evelyn Alice (Nickerson) Alexander. Her early years of education began at country school before graduating from Algona High School in 1954, at the age of 17. She then moved to the Friday Boarding House in Fort Dodge, which her grandparents owned. On St. Patrick’s Day in 1956, Joan met James E. Brundage at the Laramar Ballroom in Fort Dodge. After a three month courtship, the couple became engaged and were united in marriage with a candlelight ceremony at the Lehigh Methodist Church on Sept. 21, 1956. In 1962, the couple moved to a farm outside of Lehigh where they spent 50 years. In 2012, they moved to her current residence in Lehigh.
Over the years, Joan worked at Treloar’s as a carhop, Tobin Packing Plant and later Hormel’s (secretarial), DeKalb for many summers and the Southeast Webster School System (cafeteria) until her retirement. She was also a homemaker with excellent cooking, canning and baking skills; her rhubarb dream was a favorite. Joan was a member of the Lehigh United Methodist Church, the Lehigh Womens Club and a Camp Fire Leader. Joan enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She kept their summers jam packed with adventures including paddle boating and canoeing at Spring Lake, hikes at Dolliver State Park, picnics at Oak Grove Cemetery, and swimming at the Stratford pool followed by an ice cream treat. She was often their chauffeur and never missed a school activity or event. She also enjoyed bowling, camping, summers at Leech Lake, swimming, water sports, biking, riding her moped, board games, Elvis, genealogy, bird watching, having coffee with her friends downtown, playing piano, singing for weddings and funerals, casino trips, taking pictures to capture memories, collecting spoons, and traveling with her daughter, especially to Hawaii. She never met a stranger and could strike up a lengthy conversation with anyone. She was a master story teller. Joan had the kindest heart and would do anything for her family. She always took pride in her appearance, but was also very modest. She was beautiful on both the inside and out and always had a smile on her face. Joan will be deeply missed.
Joan is survived by three children: Tony Brundage and wife Pam, Marty Brundage and Shelly Brundage, all of Lehigh; three grandchildren: Josh Brundage of Lehigh, Jamie Brundage (Bruce Johnson) of Otho, and Rachel Smith and husband Nick of Fort Dodge; six great-grandchildren: Evelyn, Grace, Rylee, Carston, Braydon and Kayleigh; and sister: Judy Decker of Algona. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, extended family members and her dog: Olive.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Art and Evelyn Alexander; her husband of nearly 65 years: Jim Brundage in Jan. of 2021; brother-in-law: Dwight Decker; mother and father-in-law: Roy and Grace Brundage; and three sisters-in-law: Betty Brueland and husband Bud, Phyllis Anthony and husband Tony, and Garnet Hansen and husband LaVern. She is also preceded in death by her dear friends and neighbors of 40 years: Helen and Wilber Woodle.