Nolan Earl Bruntzel -- Chiropractor

 

Nolan Earl Bruntzel

Nolan Earl Bruntzel was born on January 3, 1921 in Rozel, Kansas.  He was the third of four children of Harry August Bruntzel and Willa Jane Ricks Bruntzel. Harry was a farmer and was a native of Kansas.  His father was from Germany and his mother was from Russia. Willa Jane was a native of Missouri and her parents were both natives of Trigg County, Kentucky where she was a great grandchild of Perry Thomas.

Nolan’s siblings were Beulah Ferne Bruntzel, who was born in 1916 and married August Fromong; Lola Dorene Bruntzel who was born in 1917 and died in 1928 at the age of 10; and Harry Eldon Bruntzel, who was born in 1925 and married Wilma Jean Vratil.

Nolan grew up on the farm in Grant, Kansas and attended schools in Pawnee County, graduating from Larned High School.

On June 25, 1943, when Nolan was 22 years old the country was in the middle of World War II and he was inducted into the U. S. Army. After completion of his basic training, Nolan was assigned to the 87th Infantry Division, which was known as the “Golden Acorn”.  His unit sailed to Europe in October 1944, arriving in England on November 12, 1944. He landed in France at the end of November and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Nolan was discharged on March 30, 1946 and he returned to his home in Grant, Kansas.

Nolan then pursued a career as a chiropractor.  Upon completion of his education he moved to Pratt, Kansas where he served as a chiropractor for 50 years.

On February 6, 1974, Nolan married Lestal Mae Pulley Taylor.  Lestal was born on July 10, 1934 in Lake City, Arkansas, the daughter of Roy Glee and Della Henrietta Powers Pulley. Her father had been a farmer in Arkansas. Lestal owned and operated a ladies clothing store in Jonesboro, Arkansas when she married Nolan.   She left the clothing store to live in Pratt where she took over the daily operations of Doc Bruntzel’s chiropractic office. After his retirement, Nolan and Lestal returned to Jonesboro, Arkansas to live.  After Nolan’s death, Lestal returned to work in retail in the ladies clothing store industry.

Noland and Lestal were the parents of two daughters, Debbie Bruntzel who married Doug Cousins and Pamela Bruntzel who married Danny Goad.

Nolan died on October 25, 2000 at his home in Jonesboro at the age of 79.  He was buried in the Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery.  Lestal died on August 14, 2015 at her home in Jonesboro and she was also buried in the Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery.

 Lestal Bruntzel

Nolan and Lestal Bruntzel tombstone

Nolan's military tombstone

LINEAGE:  (Nolan Earl Bruntzel was the son of Harry August and Willa Jane Ricks Bruntzel and the grandson of Joel Columbus and Elizabeth Jane Futrell Ricks.  Elizabeth was the first child of William R. and Eliza Jane Thomas Futrell.  Eliza Jane was the ninth child of Perry and Elizabeth Josephine Bridges Thomas.  Perry was the third child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)