Hildegard Elizabeth Bruch, 98, of Carroll, Iowa, passed peacefully from this life surrounded by loving family on Saturday, May 7th, at St. Anthony’s Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2016, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Craig Collison with Con-Celebrants Fr. James Bruch and Fr. Lynn Bruch. Music will be by Kate Cuddy and the St. Lawrence Choir. Lectors will be Mary Lisa Zug and Meghan Ann Zug. Gift Bearers will be Ethel and Ray Reiff and the Eucharistic Minister will be Peg Scheidt. Casket Bearers will be Marilyn Renee Alvarado, Christopher Zug, Ryan Zug, Cory Bruch, Jason Bruch, Jennifer Bayne, Katrina Lehtola, and Elizabeth Lehtola. Honorary Casket Bearer will be Joseph R. Bruch, Jr. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. at St. Francis Cemetery in Maple River.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. A rosary will be prayed at 5 p.m., and a Christian Wake Service will be held at 6:30 p.m.
The casket will be moved to St. Lawrence Church on Thursday morning, where visitation will resume at 10 a.m. and continue until the time of the funeral mass.
Born on January 11, 1918, in Maple River, Iowa, Hilda was the fourth of 13 children born to John and Anna (Niehaus) Staiert. On February 10, 1942, she was united in marriage to Joseph Bruch at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Maple River. The couple first farmed near Auburn but soon moved to Fonda, Iowa. After farming for more than 50 years, the couple retired, remaining on the farm for several years before moving to an acreage on the edge of Fonda. In addition to assisting on the farm, Hilda worked for several years at the Fonda Care Center. Later the couple returned to Carroll and enjoyed their final years together in their home on Simon Avenue. Despite a few of her own health scares, Hilda lovingly cared for Joe as his health declined prior to his passing in 2003. She moved to Orchard View in 2004 and to St. Anthony’s Nursing Home in January, 2015.
When not working or caring for her family, she enjoyed gardening, baking, sewing, crocheting and quilting. Faith and family were of the utmost importance to her, as were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to whom she devoted countless hours feeding, playing cards, rescuing from rural perils, and demonstrating a deep love and care for one another.
Joe and Hilda raised four proud children who survive to honor their memory: Joseph of Carroll; Mary Ann (Tom) Zug of Clive, Iowa; John (Diane) of Lubbock, Texas; and Rita Jane (Peter) Lehtola of Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Left with fond memory of the couple are nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving is her sister, Ethel (Ray) Reiff, of Carroll, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.
Hilda was preceded in death by her husband; an infant daughter, Joanne; her parents; siblings, Loretta Reiff, Agnes Gehling, Rosina Wiederin, Marita Heires, Anita Bellinghausen, and Elmer, Henry, Walter, Edwin, Paul, and Leo Staiert; and infant siblings, Eleanor, Arthur, and Joseph.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Hilda’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com
