James "Jim" Elliott Brunner, 87, of Bella Vista, Arkansas, passed away on December 24, 2021, at Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville. He was born on January 30, 1934, in Jefferson, Iowa, to Melchior W. Brunner and Florence M. Brunner.

Jim studied architecture at Iowa State University and later graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. He earned a master's degree from the University of Northern Colorado in 1965.  For more than thirty years, Jim taught math at high schools and colleges, primarily at Black Hawk College in Moline, Illinois, where he was an associate professor and department chair. Jim served as President of The Illinois Mathematics Association of Community Colleges which presented him with its Distinguished Service Award in 1997. Later, he taught math at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Jim and his loving wife of 62 years, Jean Lawson Brunner, lived for decades in Moline, where they raised their daughter, Lori Brunner.  Jim and Jean moved to Bella Vista in 2000. Jim loved playing golf and singing in both the choir of the Bella Vista Community Church and the Bella Vista Men's Chorus.  Jim, a life-long fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, upon hearing the Chicago Cubs had won the World Series quipped, "I guess hell has finally frozen over."

Jim was predeceased in death by his parents. Jim is survived by his wife, Jean; his daughter, Lori and his granddaughter, Nadia Stone of Mesa, Arizona; his sister, Marilyn Egan (James) of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; his niece, Katherine Egan Krause of Eau Claire and his nephew, Michael Egan of Verona, Wisconsin.

A memorial service is scheduled for Tuesday, December 28 ^th , 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at the Community Church of Bella Vista. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Community Church or the University of Northern Iowa Foundation.

Condolences may be expressed at www.funeralmation.com.