Walene Claire Brunner

Walene Claire “Bird” Brunner (Goodland)

Walene Claire Brunner (Goodland) of Peoria Arizona, passed away on January 10, 2016, at the age of 75.

Walene was born in Butte Montana, Silver Bow County on April 27, 1940. Walene is preceded in death by son Cory and Sister Marita but survived by her Sons Virland (Michelle) and Aaron (Stacy), daughter Virlana (Luis), Niece Lisa (Steve), 11 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, 1 great niece and 2 great nephews.

Walene was the eldest daughter of Walter Harry Goodland and Helen Fedora Goodland (Hofreuter). She was married twice – first to Virgil Alma Johnson on September 5, 1959 - divorced April 5, 1972 and to Herbert William Brunner on November 21, 1974 - divorced 5 years later.

Soon after Walene was born, her family moved to Longview Washington where she attended school and graduated from Robert A. Long High School. It was in Longview, where after being invited to play the organ for a local branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that she later converted. After high school, she attended Lower Columbia Junior College where she received an Associate of Arts degree. It was in Longview she met and married her first husband Virgil. Over the next 12 years they made a home in Portland, Lake Oswego and later Roseburg Oregon having four children together.

Walene and Children returned to Longview for a year and then moved to Phoenix/Mesa Arizona to be closer to her Mother, Sister and family. In Phoenix, Walene met and married her second husband Herb. They lived together in Mesa for the next 5 years. Over her remaining years, Walene lived in Mesa Arizona, Provo Utah, Phoenix and Peoria Arizona.

Walene was beautiful, charming, intelligent, vibrant and a leader in her youth. Walene had to grow up and assume more responsibility, sooner than most, given her father’s early death when she was only 12 years old. She began teaching piano students in her Mother’s studio as a teen to help pay for family expenses.

Walene was an accomplished pianist, organist, composer, arranger, teacher and artist. She started her career as a performer at the age of 2 ½ years old giving her first concert at 3 years old. Her career accomplishments include teaching piano and organ to over a 1,000 students from beginner to advanced, giving hundreds of recitals, composing and arranging everything from show tunes, pop music to a piano concerto, supporting and accompanying hundreds of musical numbers, participating in orchestras and bands.

Bird will be greatly missed by her family, students and beloved friends.

A memorial service will be held at the LDS Church on (83rd Ave North of Deer Valley Rd) - 22034 N 83rd Avenue Peoria, Arizona on Saturday, January 16th, at Noon. A viewing will be held for family and very close friends at 11am.