Obituaries

Merlin J. “Mike” Bruning, age 85 of Carroll, died Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 2, 2011 at Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Johnson. Mass Servers will be Megan and Page Tiefenthaler. Lector for the funeral mass will be Deb Bruning. Gift Bearers will be: Laurie Prichard, Joan Bruning, and Vicki Gross. Eucharistic Ministers will be Denis Tigges and Mary Marvin Bellinghausen. Music for the mass will be by Barb McDermott and the Holy Spirit Choir with Marvin Toft as soloist. Honorary Casket Bearers will be: Don Bernholtz, Don Granstra, Neil Ludwig, Louis Mueggenberg, Wayne Zimny, Norman Tapps, Duane Broich, Ray Brincks, Paul Baumhover, Kevin Eischeid, Denis Tigges, and Lloyd Drees. Casket Bearers will be: Brian Bellinghausen, Travis Bellinghausen, Athena Bruning, Brad Puck, Denny Bruning, Rick Bruning, Bo Bruning, and Rick Bruning Jr. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4 p.m. Friday where there will be a Christian Wake Service by the parish at 6:30 p.m. The casket will be taken to Holy Spirit Church at 8:30 a.m. Saturday to lie in state until time of the funeral mass. Memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for the Carroll American Legion or the RPM Club.
Born on March 24, 1926 at Breda, Iowa, Merlin J. Bruning was the son of Bernard and Rose (Brune) Bruning. He spent his younger years in the Breda community and attended St. Bernard School. In 1944 Mike enlisted in the United States Army where he began his decorated career that spanned over 22 years. On August 2, 1951 he married Patricia Mae Rogers at Rossville, Georgia. Throughout his career in the Army, Mike served in WWII, Korean, and Vietnam Wars. In 1966, Mike retired as a 1st Sergeant E-8, with over thirty medals, awards, and accommodations. He also received a GED Diploma from the University of Wisconsin and his pilot license while in the service. Upon retirement from his military service Mike had several jobs which included: manager of the Ames and Boone terminals for Crouse Cartidge Allied Agent, District Manager for National Trailer and Morgan Driveway, and manager of Transceiver as Vice President of Transceivers Northwest. In his formal retirement Mike traveled throughout the United States with his wife Patricia delivering motor homes for Winnebago Industries. Mike was instrumental in the fundraising and the construction of the Veteran’s Memorial in Veteran’s Park in Carroll. He enjoyed golfing, traveling, spending time with his family and being active in the many clubs and organizations he was a part of. Mike was a member of the RPM Club, Life Member of NRA, Carroll Moose Lodge, Carroll VFW, Carroll American Legion, and Holy Spirit Parish.
Survivors include his children: Sharon (Wayne) Bellinghausen of Carroll, Michael (Laurie Prichard) Bruning of Carroll; three grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; his sister, Ione Beyer of Carroll; his brother, Larry (Joan) Bruning of Carroll; and sister in-law, Wilma Bruning of Carroll, as well as other relatives and numerous friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Patricia Mae in May 2002; brothers, Aaron and Ray Bruning; his sister, Alma Debourgh; and brothers and sisters in-law: George Beyer, Russ Debourgh, Augustine Underberg, and Frances Bruning.