Gary Brukardt, 66, of Nashville, TN and De Pere, WI passed away unexpectedly, Tuesday evening in Nashville. Gary was born January 26, 1946 in Green Bay, WI, a son of the late Otto and Margaret (Machurick) Brukardt. On August 20, 1966 he married the former Karen Peterson in Sheboygan, WI. Mr. Brukardt was a highly respected leader in the healthcare industry. He founded SpecialtyCare, Inc. in 2006, which is headquartered in Nashville, TN and was its Chairman and CEO since the company's inception. Under his leadership, SpecialtyCare became the premier provider of outsourced clinical services, supporting 322, 000 surgical procedures annually at more than 760 hospitals. Prior to forming SpecialtyCare, Mr. Brukardt was President and CEO of Renal Care Group from 2003 to 2006 and it's Chief Operating Officer from 1996 to 2003. Renal Care Group provided dialysis services to over 32, 500 patients at more than 450 outpatient dialysis facilities. Mr. Brukardt moved to Nashville in 1991 when he became Executive Vice President of Baptist HealthCare affiliates and Chairman/President of Health Net Management, Inc., both located in Nashville, TN. Prior to 1991, Mr. Brukardt was at Voluntary Hospitals of America, Inc. (VHA), as Vice President for Managed Care. While at VHA, he was a founder and principal of VHA Health Ventures, a national managed care consulting group and a founder and senior officer of Partners National HealthPlans a joint venture of VHA and Aetna. Also, while at VHA, Mr. Brukardt established the services business unit of the VHA Supply Company. Mr. Brukardt began his career in 1972 at St. Luke's Hospital Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, followed by several positions with the Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center system in Denver, Colorado where he established Mountain Medical Affiliates, the first PPO in the nation. Mr. Brukardt grew up in De Pere, Wisconsin and following service in the US Army, graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 1971 with a B.A. in International Studies. He received a Masters of Business Administration in International Management from Thunderbird, School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona in 1972. He is survived by his wife, Karen, two grown children, Ryan (Daniela) and Briana (Matt) Shepard, and by his three granddaughters Liliana, Isabella, and Clara. He is further survived by his sisters Sandra (Ken) Verhagen, Mona Brukardt, Marlene (Terry) Gerrits. During his 40 years in healthcare, Mr. Brukardt was actively involved in many healthcare organizations. In recent years, he held board positions at the Nashville Healthcare Council, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Medgenics, Inc., and Vyteris, Inc. (formerly MediSync BioServices, Inc.). He was also a University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Foundation board member. Family and friends may visit from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Sunday, August 26, 2012 at St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 347 S. Libal St. De Pere, WI. The Service will be at 3:00 p.m. with Fr. Lon Pearson officiating followed by Military Rites. Burial will be in the Suamico Cemetery. RYAN FUNERAL HOME, De Pere, WI is assisting the Brukardt family. Please visit www.ryanfh.com to send online condolences to the Brukardt family.