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Larry Bruning

October 28, 1946 - April 19, 2021

We created a GatheringUs memorial to celebrate the life of Larry Bruning. Collecting your stories and memories here will offer us great comfort. Click on the heart to let us know you were here and to receive email updates. Thank you for contributing to this lasting memorial. Here is a link to his memorial...  see more

OBITUARY
Larry Bruning was a father, a husband, a talented artist, and a great man. He shared his kindness, passion, and skills with so many. And it is with them, that his memory lives on.
6,289 Visits

Posts & Photos

  • Chris Carle
    Chris Carle:
    May 30, 2022
    I remember meeting Larry and Judy at their Seattle pottery in 1983. Watching Larry throw pots was like seeing magic. What a talent! I’ll always remember --- and I continue to be grateful for the time at their pottery.
  • Allison Peel
    Allison Peel
    April 19, 2022
    • Allison Peel
      Allison Peel Judy, Ky, and Brett- I did not know Larry passed until just now. My sincere condolences. I am sure you miss him dearly. My story- I moved to Seattle in 1995, a clay artist recently graduated with a BFA degree in ceramics. At Pottery Northwest, Jean...  more
      • April 19, 2022
  • Lisa Sandlin
    Lisa Sandlin:
    April 19, 2022
    I had the pleasure of spending time with Larry during a water color class at Bruning. I was so shy and nervous and Larry also came by to chat with me and made me feel so welcome. Sweetest person ever. What a privilege to have spent time together.
  • Darcy Jayne
    Darcy Jayne:
    March 20, 2022
    I just now learned that Larry has left. So many memories of chatting with him about pottery, seeing his dedication and love of his craft in his work and hearing it in his voice. His work in the form of everyday stoneware plates, bowls, and mugs has been...  more
  • Darcy Jayne
    Darcy Jayne
    March 20, 2022
  • Bruning Pottery
    Bruning Pottery:
    December 16, 2021
    Here is a lovely video made by Larry's family in memory of him.
    39:17
    Larry's Story
    Larry Bruning was a father, a husband, a talented artist, and a great man. He shared his kindness, passion, and skills with so many. And it is with them, that his memory lives on.
  • Nancy E. Gill
    Nancy E. Gill:
    October 8, 2021
    My memories of Ky and his parents go back to about 1997. In 1996, retired from thirty-one years of teaching at Penn State and then at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania, where I did a learning cluster with Karl Beamer, Bloomsburg's Ceramics...  more
  • Julie Fuller
    Julie Fuller:
    October 5, 2021
    Dear Judy and Family -
    I was searching the website to find another pottery class and instead found your memorial of Larry Bruning.
    I am so sorry for your and our loss. I want to thank you for sharing him and his talents with us (his students), His...  more
  • Judy Smith
    Judy Smith:
    August 19, 2021
    I took a couple rounds of classes back in 2009. Larry was always so patient and encouraging and made me feel inspired to keep trying through my frustrations but at the same time proud even of my many oops and "learning experiences." He was so...  more
  • Melissa Wilson
    Melissa Wilson:
    July 29, 2021
    I remember my first class (2011), I had no idea what I was doing. Larry was always encouraging and inspiring. Loved watching him on the wheel, he made it look so easy. My favorites were when he threw tall vases, it was the coolest thing for me. I...  more
  • Lori Rekow
    Lori Rekow:
    July 19, 2021
    I took a class at Bruning Pottery quite a number of years ago. I remember the evenings when it was chilly outside and it was so toasty warm inside from the kiln and Larry would have the music on while we were working on developing our skills. It just...  more
  • Margo Harris
    Margo Harris
    July 19, 2021
    • Margo Harris
      Margo Harris I was so sad to read about Larry's passing. As I look around my home and yard, I have so many Bruning memories from the range of flower pots to the cobalt blue tea set and matching cups. I missed the conversations with Larry when the shop moved, and I...  more
      • July 19, 2021
  • Kay Ditzenberger
    Kay Ditzenberger:
    June 7, 2021
    To our family, Larry was not only an amazing artist but he had a heart of gold and taught us a very, very important lesson.

    My son Ike has Down syndrome and Larry welcomed him with open arms to his pottery classes several years ago. Larry treated Ike...  more
  • Bruning Pottery
    Bruning Pottery added 1 photo(s) to the memorial Larry Bruning:
    May 6, 2021
  • Bret Bruning
    Bret Bruning:
    May 6, 2021
    Just wanted to share a fond memory of our family vacation in the summer of 1999 when we visited Glacier National Park in Montana.

    Dad used to talk about visiting this place, I'm glad we did. It was a highlight in each of our lives, but I think that Dad...  more
  • Diane Decker-Ihle
    Diane Decker-Ihle:
    May 5, 2021
    Larry was an extraordinary potter, teacher, and human being. He calmly taught with a calm, quiet patience and humor with a twinkle in his eye. Were our pots amusing?
    I had not thrown a pot in over 30 years and it is like riding a bicycle, however, in...  more
  • Bruning Pottery
    Bruning Pottery added 1 photo(s) to the memorial Larry Bruning:
    May 4, 2021
  • Bruning Pottery
    Bruning Pottery added 1 photo(s) to the memorial Larry Bruning:
    May 1, 2021
  • Bruning Pottery
    Bruning Pottery added 1 photo(s) to the memorial Larry Bruning:
    April 30, 2021
  • Bruning Pottery
    Bruning Pottery added 1 photo(s) to the memorial Larry Bruning:
    April 29, 2021
  • Ruthann Tobiason
    Ruthann Tobiason:
    April 29, 2021
    I "returned" to pottery about 13 years ago, long after my first experience during high school, and at a time when I was experiencing a great deal of stress. My choices were therapy or quit working, but then I saw the "Pottery Classes"...  more
  • Bruning Pottery
    Bruning Pottery added 1 photo(s) to the memorial Larry Bruning:
    April 28, 2021
  • Lisa Sorensen
    Lisa Sorensen:
    April 27, 2021
    I loved Larry’s love of nature!
    His photos of the joy were very inspiring & I share it! 🌷
  • Lisa Sorensen
    Lisa Sorensen:
    April 27, 2021
    Larry told me of times so long ago about he and Judy as Scientologists in Oregon. I felt like he had seen so much life, progression and expansion that will create the great future he hoped for and contributed to.
    I had Larry & Judy create dinner-ware for...  more
  • Bruning Pottery
    Bruning Pottery:
    April 27, 2021
    Posting for Ky:

    My dad seemed to know how to help almost anybody. My whole life I've listened to conversations about him and there was always something. To quote is hard because the love for him was a sort of telepathy and usually not voiced in exact...  more
  • Bruning Pottery
    Bruning Pottery:
    April 27, 2021
    Posting for Lil:

    For me, there are so many wonderful memories.
    I enjoyed Larry so much. When he would come to Flag, we would sit together for long periods of time and just talk. There was never a moment lost and we would laugh and enjoy the environment...  more
  • Linda Goh
    Linda Goh
    April 27, 2021
  • Bruning Pottery
    Bruning Pottery added 1 photo(s) to the memorial Larry Bruning:
    April 27, 2021
  • Marge Young
    Marge Young:
    April 27, 2021
    Judy, I am so sorry to hear of Larry’s passing. You and your family have my deepest sympathy. He will be missed.
  • Meesun Dunn
    Meesun Dunn:
    April 27, 2021
    Larry was my first pottery teacher over 10 years ago. I was a total beginner and Larry's presence made my time at the studio very comfortable. He was always there for us and provided help with grace and warm heart. When I think of Larry, I remember...  more
  • Meesun Dunn
    Meesun Dunn
    April 27, 2021
  • Richard Hall
    Richard Hall:
    April 26, 2021
    Relaying a message here from Bob McInnes, my landlord and someone whom was mentored by Larry as well as having worked at Bruning Pottery a number of years. I asked him what his favorite memory of Larry was:

    "He was my mentor. We used to load up...  more
  • Richard Hall
    Richard Hall
    April 26, 2021
  • Jarrad Moss
    Jarrad Moss:
    April 25, 2021 · via mobile
    Memories I have of Uncle Larry and the family include the times they came to Idaho when I was a child. I was delighted to recieve an envelope of flies he had made. Now older, I appreciated the times he and Aunt Judy would take to see my family and I...  more
  • Mark Arnold
    Mark Arnold:
    April 25, 2021
    Unlike many, I didn't know Larry so much from his skill as a potter and artist, but more from my association with him through our Church, where we worked on many projects and events together over the last 30 plus years. (I will amend that statement just...  more
  • Abby Dernburg
    Abby Dernburg:
    April 25, 2021
    I'm so sorry to learn of your loss! I just visited your site to admire your beautiful work.
  • Kaysee Kimmel
    Kaysee Kimmel:
    April 25, 2021 · via iPhone
    Uncle Larry shared this advice with his great-niece Madisyn: the joy and purpose of a true artist is to share your art/talent with others. Madisyn was a teenager at the time and Larry’s words/encouragement left a lasting impression. Uncle Larry was a...  more
  • Melissa Van Dusen
    Melissa Van Dusen:
    April 25, 2021 · via iPhone
    I feel so blessed to have known Larry. I first met Larry on my 25th birthday. I had signed up for a pottery class, and I was brimming with excitement to get my hands on some clay. Larry was so patient with me and would always show me whatever I wanted to...  more
  • Rosanne Hansen
    Rosanne Hansen:
    April 25, 2021 · via iPhone
    My very first class was on a day that it was flooding everywhere. I was the only student to make it in. I was blessed with a one on one lesson for throwing. Although my real passion evolved into hand building, I always have treasured that time spent with...  more
  • Heather Newby
    Heather Newby
    April 25, 2021
  • Mark Arnold
    Mark Arnold
    April 25, 2021
  • Tammy Arnold
    Tammy Arnold
    April 25, 2021
  • Paige Bruning
    Paige Bruning
    April 24, 2021
  • Kristina Borg
    Kristina Borg
    April 24, 2021
  • Kyra Ballas
    Kyra Ballas
    April 24, 2021
  • Becca Otis
    Becca Otis:
    April 24, 2021 · via iPhone
    It’s hard to put into words the impact Larry Bruning has had on people that have passed through his studio. Teachers always have impact, but Larry was a bit more than a teacher. He was the head of a wonderful clay community. So many fond memories are...  more
  • Tricia Tough
    Tricia Tough:
    April 24, 2021
    Oh my gosh, I am so sorry to read this!! Larry was such a nice man. He helped me so much in my pottery skills and would go out of his way to help with my many questions when I first got started. He made a mug I loved so much that I copied the design...  more
  • Bruning Pottery
    Bruning Pottery added 1 photo(s) to the memorial Larry Bruning:
    April 24, 2021
  • John Silvernale
    John Silvernale:
    April 24, 2021
    I first met Larry eight years ago when my daughter signed both of us up for pottery classes. It was a Father's Day gift from her. Little did I know at the time the true gift was getting to know Larry. He was a master at his craft and a beautiful...  more
  • Joel Rummell
    Joel Rummell:
    April 24, 2021 · via iPhone
    Larry was a great master of clay for me though I was not his greatest disciple of clay. He was always calm and patient with me when I was struggling with the clay.He taught me more about pottery than I oils ever hope to share. I continue to learn from...  more