James Lee "Jim" Brunkhardt

James Lee Brunkhardt, 84, of Topeka and Mission Hills, Kansas, passed away on August 27, 2024 at Midland Hospice House.

Jim was born in Denver, Colorado on May 28, 1940 to Albert and Katherine (Fritzler) Brunkhardt. He attended Denver North High School where he was Senior Class President and lettered in both baseball and basketball. One of his greatest memories was being chosen as Clubhouse Boy for the Denver Bears, Farm Club for the New York Yankees, where he got to know various future Yankees such as Ralph Houk, Ralph Terry, Bobby Richardson, Tommy Lasorda, Don Larsen, Ryne Duran and more. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and lettered in baseball. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity.

Following college, Jim served in the US Coast Guard Reserve. In 1964 Jim married Polly Palmer and moved to Topeka, Kansas where he worked in the Periodical Distribution Industry at Palmer Companies. In 1970 their first son Bill was born followed by second son Ben in 1974. The couple moved to Kansas City in 1982 where Jim served as CEO of the Kansas City based family business, Kansas City Periodical Distributing Company. During the next 35 years he served in many capacities such as President of the Mid-America Periodical Association and Central Periodical Distributors Association he was an involved member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO) which afforded Jim and Polly many amazing educational experiences. In 2017 the couple returned to Topeka.

Jim was preceded in death by his son; Benjamin Palmer Brunkhardt and his brother; Donald Dean Brunkhardt.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years; Polly, son; William James Brunkhardt, brother; Gene (Norma) Brunkhardt of Manhattan Beach, CA, sisters in law: Eileen Brunkhardt of Denver, CO, Penny Lumpkin, dozens of special friends including Dr. Christine Stanson, Dr. Jennifer Klemp, Victoria Knudson and his Hi Hat Coffee Shop buddies.

Memorial service will be held on Friday, September 6, 2024, 11:00 am at Mount Hope Cemetery & Funeral Chapel, Topeka, Kansas.

James' service will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time.  Click here  to view the service.

In lieu of flowers contributions be made to Grace Episcipal Cathedral, 701 SW. 8th Ave, Topeka, Kansas 66603, or The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, 40 Presidential Road, Simi Valley, CA 93065.

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