INDIANAPOLIS -- "Big Joe" Brunk, the patriarch of a very involved central Indiana basketball family, has died.
Brunk on Saturday lost his six-month battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive, cancerous type of brain tumor. He was 56. He is survived by his wife Helen and two sons, Joey, a freshman at Butler who was red-shirted from the basketball team, and Johnny, who will be a freshman at Franklin Central this year.
Below is a statement from Butler head coach Chris Holtmann on the passing of Joe Brunk, father of Butler freshman Joey Brunk.
“Our condolences go out to all who knew and loved Joe Brunk. I learned quickly while recruiting his son that Joe was a man who always put his family first. He was a very good man and he will be missed by our entire Butler family.
Joe and Helen have raised two tremendous sons, and it is an honor to coach Joey here at Butler. Each and every day since his father was diagnosed with brain cancer in early November, Joey has been strong for his family. Despite carrying a heavy burden, he continued to bring a positive attitude to our locker room and played an important role in our team’s success this season. The courage that he displayed mirrored the courage that his father showed during his battle with a devastating disease and prognosis.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Helen, Joey, Johnny, and the entire Brunk Family during this difficult time.”
You can watch an obit from Dave Furst in the video player above.
