Howard Dean Bruner passed away Dec. 21, 2015.

Dean was born Dec. 25, 1946 in Elma, Wash. to Alice and Dean Bruner. Dean was the oldest of three boys. After residing in the states of Washington and Oregon for a short time, the family made its was to California, to seek employment with Pacific Lumber Company, residing at Holmes Flat. This is where Dean spent his first few years of school, building his roots in Humboldt County. The family eventually moved to Stafford, where his favorite childhood memories were made. Dean enjoyed swimming and hunting, where he was very successful bringing home dinner for the family.

As a teenager living in Pepperwood, Dean got his first real job at the local gas station, earning himself enough money to purchase his first car, which he was very proud of. Dean’s time in Pepperwood came too an abrupt halt during the 1964 flood. Dean and his father were busy helping the neighbors secure their belongings, risking everything the family owned.

After graduating high school, as a young adult Dean worked at Fortuna Veneer and spent the summer working for CDF fighting fires in the Garberville area. Eventually he joined the National Guard to serve his country. In 1969 Dean lost his younger brother Mark to the Vietnam War.

Dean relocated to the state of Washington as he worked in several mills in the Lake Quinalt area. Dean was tired of taking orders from people so he joined his cousin thinning threes, where he soon after started his company Shack Bolts. Dean’s hard work ethic guided him throughout the Western United States as he became the second biggest tree planter in the west — “and I’m not talking by weight, ha ha.” He was managing crews in Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California. This became the perfect job for Dean, as he loved hiring his friends and especially driving from state to state.

Dean’s love for Humboldt County brought him back to Holmes Flat, where he bought property with the love of his life, Cathy Cacci. The plan was to build their dream house together. Unfortunately, prior to the completion Cathy lost her life as she battled cancer. Dean went on to complete the house as his two sons, Darren and Doug, came to reside with him.

Dean enjoyed summer barbecues and winter trips to Cabo San Lucas. Dean also enjoyed fishing, gambling and taking long drives, but his favorite thing was spending time with his grandson, Waylon.

The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff at UCSF dialysis and his caregivers, along with friends Linda and Josafena.

Services will be held at Goble Funeral Home in Fortuna Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, at 11 a.m. Following the services, the family would like to invite everyone to celebrate his life at Rio Dell Fireman’s Hall.

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The obituary above was submitted by Dean Bruner’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.