Gertrude (Trudy) Brunsting Tr u d y ( Brouwer) Brunsting passed away on Feb. 22, 2024, after a long health battle. She had recently celebrated her 88th birthday with her entire family. Trudy was born in Hudson, South Dakota, on the family farm on a snowy February day. Her parents later moved to Rock Valley, Iowa, where she grew up and lived both on a farm and in town. After graduating from Western Christian High School, Trudy worked at the town drug store until her high school sweetheart, Alvin (Al) Brunsting, proposed. Once married, they moved many times throughout the years, from the east coast to the midwest, and on to California. When Trudy and Al first retired, they spent a short time in Arizona. Finally, in 2002 they settled in Leisure World in Seal Beach, California, to be near children and grandchildren. Trudy lost the love of her life, Al, in 2011, after many years of marriage. She loved to play games, sing, walk, knit and crochet, garden, spend time with friends/neighbors, family, and her grandchildren. Trudy also enjoyed potlucks, and having breakfast with friends. She attended Cornerstone Church in Long Beach, California. She is survived by four daughters, three granddaughters, three step-grandchildren, four step-great-grandchildren and two step great-great grandchildren, and also a brother with his family. Trudy will be missed greatly. Her family rejoices in the hope that they have in Jesus— that they will one day see her again in Heaven, and be reunited.

Anita Smart 1923-2024 Friend and neighbor Anita Smart turned 100 years old on Nov. 5, 2023 and died of congestive heart failure on Feb. 24, 2024. She was born in Los Angeles and went to Benjamin Franklin high school in Highland Park. She had three brothers and outlived them all. Anita met her husband, Bob, at a meeting when she was 16 years old, and they were married on Sept. 7, 1943. Bob was enlisted in the Army and went to UCLA after being released. He graduated and then went to work for Mobil Oil as a petroleum geologist. Bob and Anita moved around a lot because of Bob’s job.They lived in several states, including Connecticut, Utah, Texas and Colorado, ending up in California. Their son Michael was born in 1950 and their daughter Ann was born in 1952. During those years, Anita was a busy wife and mother, involved in the children’s lives. She was room mother for the Parent Teachers Association and served as PTA president twice. When the kids were grown, Bob and Anita moved to Stamford, Connecticut, and Anita went to work as a receptionist in a law firm. They eventually moved to San Clemente, California. Bob and Anita were happily married for 67 years. After Bob died of kidney failure in 2010, Anita sold their beautiful home in San Clemente and moved to Leisure World in 2012 to be closer to her daughter and son -in-law, who live in Rossmoor Estates. Anita belonged to the Cribbage Club and the Canasta Club, and made many friends in Leisure World. She enjoyed amazingly good health, as well as her nightly cocktail. She played crossword puzzles daily and walked around Leisure World often, even a few days before her death. Anita is survived by her two children, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.