Prominent retired tire dealer dies. His Idaho chain included Boise-area stores

Frank C. Bruneel, founder of Bruneel Tire and former Idaho legislator, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, in Boise. He was 90.

After moving to Lewiston in 1965, Bruneel opened the first Bruneel Tire Service on Lewiston’s G Street in 1966. The business expanded to stores in Idaho and neighboring states. The business had a well-known advertising jingle that ended with the phrase “We go, go, go, go … the extra mile.”

In 2024, Bruneel’s sons sold the business and the 13 stores their company then owned in Idaho and Oregon to Point S. They included stores on Vista, Broadway and Fairview avenues in Boise; Meridian Road in Meridian; and Caldwell Boulevard in Nampa.

During his time in Lewiston, Bruneel joined the Lewiston School Board and the Lewiston Planning and Zoning Commission. He also held leadership positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving as a stake president and bishop.

Bruneel became involved in politics when he was elected as a Republican member of the Idaho House in 1994. He served in the Idaho Legislature until 2002, including four years as House majority leader. Bruneel later moved south to McCall, then Middleton, and most recently Eagle.

His other achievements include being appointed to the Idaho Transportation Board by Gov. James Risch, and to the Idaho Housing and Finance Association Board by Gov. Dirk Kempthorne.

Bruneel was born in Boise in 1935 and graduated from Boise High School. He took flying lessons in 1971, bought a Cessna that same year, and spent decades piloting his own aircraft.

Bruneel and his wife, Sharon, were married in 1955 and later had eight children and 46 grandchildren. He is survived by his wife. Bruneel’s funeral is set for Monday, Dec. 22, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Eagle.

The Idaho Statesman contributed.