Greg ’88 and Tina (Collings) Bruner ’90 met at Olivet in fall 1984 as freshmen. Tina learned about Olivet in high school while attending Richfield Church of the Nazarene, and Greg learned about Olivet after high school when he joined the Greenwood Church of the Nazarene Bible Quiz team. Eventually he made the District Quiz Team for Olivet’s Celebrate Life event and visited the campus.
Tina joined Olivet’s staff in 1986 while Greg finished his degree. Then God opened doors for him to join the Olivet staff team as well. Recently, the Bruners concluded their years of full-time service at Olivet. When they retired, Greg had served in Student Financial Services for 32 years, and Tina was the Administrative Assistant in Reed Hall of Science for 39 years.
As a student, Greg worked nights in the boiler room, and at one point, he was faced with not being able to register due to a balance owed. The financial aid director called him in, and after Greg waited anxiously in the hall, the director called him back to say that a donor had paid the balance for him (an Olivet Foundation Scholarship). Greg was amazed at God’s faithfulness, yet even more so when he became the Financial Aid Director years later and was empowered to do that very thing every day at Olivet. Tina was a staple in the Reed Hall of Science for decades — an incredible part of the facility’s great reputation.
Though their time of work on campus is done, the Bruners want future Olivet students to know the value of ONU too — spiritually and as preparation for service to God. The couple’s decision to include Olivet in their estate planning was an easy one after being recipients of so many blessings from Olivet. They say they could never fully “repay” Olivet for everything, but being an ONU Heritage Society member is one way to help future ONU students.
Looking back at many years of connection to the University, the Bruners additionally chose Olivet as the place where their story will ultimately be complete.
“Our final resting place will be in the ONU Columbarium, which sits between the Kelley Prayer Chapel and the Miller Business Center,” they said. “This is appropriate because Olivet has been our spiritual as well as our financial support throughout our adult lives.”
Your legacy is partially defined by the charities you choose to support through your estate plans. For further guidance, we can connect you to a reputable professional estate planning service at no cost or obligation. Please call Olivet Nazarene University at 815-939-5171 or email development@olivet.edu.
