CSC alumni, killed in plane crash, laid to rest
The Scottsbluff High School gym was filled with Bearcat, Gering Bulldog and Minnesota Vikings sports apparel Wednesday evening as hundreds of people gathered in-person for the funeral service of CSC alumni Noah Bruner, 21, of Fort Collins, Colorado, and his father Matthew Bruner, 44, of Scottsbluff. At least another 1,011 others viewed the service via livestream.
The Bruners, and family friend Sydnee Brester, 19, of Gering, died Sunday, Nov. 21, when the small plane they were traveling in crashed in a hilly pasture shortly after take off from Chadron Municipal Airport, Dawes County Attorney Vance Haug stated in a Nov. 22 news release.
Filled with scores mouring her loss, Brester’s funeral sevice was 2 p.m. Saturday at Grace Chapel, Scottsbluff.
CSC student James Bruner, 18, of Scottsbluff, son and brother to Matthew and Noah, along with Brester, had attended a Minnesota Viking’s football game in Minneapolis earlier in the day, Nov. 21.
Matthew, who piloted the 1978 Cessna T310R aircraft, stopped in Chadron to drop off James before taking off for Fort Collins to drop off Noah.
“I’m going to be bluntly honest; I haven’t even accepted their death,” James said Wednesday during his father’s and borther’s funeral service. “Maybe after this it will all set in.”
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Noah was an operations assistant at Power 2 Play Sports in Windsor, Colorado, where he coached, managed the concessions and court rentals, according to his LinkedIn profile. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in business and a minor in sports leadership.
“He was an admired leader in everything he did,” Noah’s obituary stated. “He demonstrated his strong leadership skills in a quiet, competitive, and positive way. He was the silent one whose punchline and timing to any joke was impeccable.”
Family friend Nick Goranson, Noah’s former coach, paid tribute to Noah at Wednesday’s service.
“I can’t wait for the day when Noah and I can hang out again. This time on the other side, where we will be a part of God’s team,” Goranson said.
Matthew Bruner graduated from CSC in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He went on to medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
In 2009, he became an obstetrician and gynecologist at Regional West Medical Center’s Women’s Center in Scottsbluff. He became the Chief Medical Officer in 2019.
“My dad is the strongest man I will ever know,” James said. “He would sacrifice himself any day of the week and so would I.”
Brester was attending WNCC in Scottsbluff pursuing a degree in human services with the goal of being a victim’s advocate. She received a vocal scholarship and was an active member of the choir.
“Maybe I’ll become the strongest I’ll ever be after this is all over, but it will only be with the strength of these three individuals,” James said.