I meet Carl Brunner a retired gentleman who was a recovered alcoholic while staying at my dads friend from J&L Steel Charlie Jackson summer home on Mckim Way in Franklin Twp along Conequnessing Creek .He resided with the Jacksons after meeting Charlie at an alcoholics anonymous meeting . He was originally from Windber Pa area and grew up with Johhny Wiesmiller the actor who played the Original Tarzan in the movies . He had a neat old Corvair car yes the one Ralph Nadar said was dangerous at any speed. Just like in picture below.
He and Charlie always kept these very strong little candy's called Nibs around the house to help keep that taste for alcohol off there minds. Even thou both had been dry for many years the temptation is always there.
He was always nice to me and my brothers and often talked about his exploits when him and Charlie where off the wagon Like the time they put a horse in charlies car when there friend got to drunk to ride it home . After Charlie passed from a heart Attack one of the nicest guys you ever wanted to meet , he stayed on with Mrs Jackson for the summer but then one day he asked if he could ride into Rochester with us to get something. While my dad was getting something from the Pharmacy Carl went into the state store unknown to my dad and once again started a life of alcohol .
He started getting mean with Mrs Jacksonand she asked him to leave this would have been around 1972 he got into his Corvair and was never heard from again. Did he end up in some skid row apartment or nursing home or did he die a homeless unknown bum on the street did he go to find family no one knows . Tragically Mr Brunners story plays out every day in this state by those who become afflicted by the devil in the bottle. Where ever he is I hope he is Resting in Peace for he hs surely passed by now he would be well over 100 by now. hopefully some day I will find out what happened to him and know the rest of his story to be able to share it
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