June Marie (Sparks) Brune, 85, went to be with the Lord July 21, 2015, at home in Venice, Fla. She was born in Indianapolis, Ind., on May 29, 1930, to Harvey and Lillian Sparks. She was a graduate of Mt. Comfort High School and attended Arthur Jordan College of Music, now Butler University.
She was a member of South Venice Christian Church and a charter member of the Big-Z-B Home Economics Club of Hancock County.
She was a talented musician and always gave God the credit for her talent. She played violin, piano, organ, and clarinet. She taught private lessons for 20 years and was part of “Two Hits and a Miss” trio. She was an organist for Fortville Christian Church, Oaklandon Christian Church, both chapels at Fort Harrison, Indianapolis and South Venice Christian Church in Florida. She also was choir director at Fortville and Fort Harrison Memorial Chapel. She was an organist for horse shows for 49 years, playing in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Tennessee.
She married Lowell Brune in 1949 and they traveled to those states together. She helped him in Brune’s Woodshed, doing shows for their business. She also drove a school bus for Lawrence Township for 24 years.
She had played every year of the Indiana State Fair starting in 1941, with Laveta Smith, in 4-H contests and continued as the organist for the horse shows, which was a popular attraction every year. She received the Indiana State Fair's "Golden Key Award" in 2013, for 72 years of consecutive service as a musician.
She is survived by her daughter, Beverly (Roger) Reason of Palmetto, Fla., several nieces, nephews, great- nieces, and great- nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lowell Brune in 2005 and her son, Rick Brune in 2006.
Friends may call from 4 – 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, 2015, at Seals Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Fortville. A Celebration of June’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 30, 2015, at the funeral home. Entombment will follow at Washington Park East Cemetery in Indianapolis.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Parkinson’s Research, Indiana Cancer Research, the Hancock County Community Foundation for one of two June Brune funds benefitting music scholarships, or the Edelweiss Equine Therapy Center.
Online condolences may be shared at www.sealsfuneralhome.com.
