Eugene Brunk, general manager at Koehler & Dramm Wholesale Florist, dies

Eugene Loudon Brunk Jr., a passionate floral industry leader and mentor for more than 45 years, died at his home on May 4 due to complications from COVID-19. Born in Detroit in 1955, Mr. Brunk began his floral career in sales at DWF Wholesale Florist in Flint, MI, where he spent nearly 15 years. In 1990, he went to work at Koehler & Dramm Wholesale Florist in Minneapolis, both as a salesman and a greens buyer, eventually becoming its general manager.

“Eugene has been a steadfast and reliable fixture at Koehler for over 30 years, and he will be greatly missed by all who had the honor and the privilege of knowing him,” Koehler & Dramm said in a statement. “We will honor Eug by ‘getting the job done’ the way he would have wanted.”

One of Mr. Brunk’s favorite things to do was to go to classic car shows and to drive his 1972 Nova. Since he was not a fan of funerals, there is no formal service planned. However, his wife will host a celebration of life “Eugfest” this summer at a future date yet to be determined.

“Eugene was the most honest, hard-working wholesale florist in the industry,” R.L. posted Dramm online. “No matter what job needed to be done, whenever it needed to be done — at 2 p.m. on Tuesday or 2 a.m. on Sunday — Eugene always jumped in to put out the fire. The industry lost a giant.”