Obituary of John Michael Bruneau

John “Johnny” Michael Bruneau of Esko passed away after a short but courageous battle with stage four renal cancer with his children by his side on February 11, 2025.

John was born on June 25, 1968 to Joe and Susan (Johanson) Bruneau in Edina, Mn. He graduated from Fridley High School in 1986 and went on to become a Surgical Technologist. John earned his certification in both Surgical Technology and Surgical First Assisting and was a member of the NBSTSA. He joined Northland Plastic Surgery in 1997 where he worked for 27 years. He was incredibly talented, wonderful, and fun to work with. John was always ready with a joke or his special brand of sarcasm and one-liners from movies and he kept true to his humorous, gentle, selfless, and kind spirit to the absolute end. John loved fishing, hunting, cooking and smoking salmon.

Above all else, he loved and cherished his children, Josie and Ben. He greeted friends and family with a hug that was simply the best, and that will be remembered. John’s last words were “I love you” and he told that to us as much as he could so we would never forget.

He is survived by his children, Josie (Logan Jennings) and Ben of Esko, his ex-wife Kristi Konu, His father Joe, mother Susan Gray, brother Joey (Lisa) and his niece Maggie, his Aunt Gayle (Terry) Nelson and family, the wonderful past and present Physicians Andy Baertsch, Dean Weber, Andy Messa, Tom Rishavy, Jay Fowler, Sarah Crandall, and his work family at Northland Plastic Surgery, Best buddies Travis Rath, James (Amy) Poe, Andy Maki, and Danny (Kristin) Keely, his very special friends Rachel Perlinger and Jody Vonasek, and many other valued friends and co-workers.

A special thank you to his caregivers and staff at Essentia Health, Interfaith, Carleton, St Croix Hospice, Cari Usher, Nichole Musolf, and everyone that was involved with his generous benefit in October, and the compassionate community of faculty, staff, and friends at Esko High School.

Celebration of Life for John will be on March 1, 2025 at Eastridge Community Church at 3727 West Arrowhead Road in Duluth, MN. Visitation at 11, Service at 1