Bielenberg, Bruce 1932-2014

BIELENBERG, GRILL, DIERKS, KETELSEN, HANSEN, MESSERSCHMITT, PARKER, BEHR, EBERHARDT, STOPKEY

Posted By: Ruth Maring - Volunteer
Date: 5/5/2014 at 11:44:19

Bruce Bielenberg, 81, passed away on April 10, 2014 at his home in Goose Lake while surrounded by his family. A private memorial service will be held Monday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Charlotte. Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of Bruce’s life on Monday, April 14, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. at the Millenium in Goose Lake. Food and beverages will be served. In lieu of flowers, Bruce’s final wishes are for everyone to enjoy and spend time with their family and friends and…..for someone to “please put a new roof on the church.”

Bruce was born on the family farm near Charlotte on May 26, 1932, the son of William “Bill” and Loretta (Grill) Bielenberg. He graduated from Charlotte High School in 1947. Bruce served in the 167th Airborne Division and was assigned to the 187th Airborne Combat Team in Japan and Korea during the Korean War. He married Darline (Dierks) Ketelsen on May 31, 1963 in Charlotte and raised four children.

Bruce spent his entire life farming north of Charlotte on Breezy Point Farm; he worked over 20 years at E.I. DuPont in Clinton; and he drove a school bus for Northeast Community schools for 20 years. He attended and served Immanuel Lutheran Church in Charlotte his whole life. Bruce was an avid Northeast Rebels sports fan and loved attending sports events.

In his early years, Bruce enjoyed cruising Clinton County on his Harley Davidson which prompted an emergency meeting of the Charlotte City Council. He was devoted to the American Red Cross and gave more than 35 gallons of blood over the span of his lifetime. Bruce was also committed to conservation of Iowa farmland and constructed two ponds on his property. Many local children have enjoyed fishing there courtesy of “Two Pond Bruce.”

Bruce is survived by his wife Darline; four children, Vicki Hansen (Joel), Brent Bielenberg (Nancy), Nadine Messerschmitt (Dan) and Tracy Bielenberg; 12 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; three sisters, Abby Parker, Mary Kay (Rod) Behr and Joyce Eberhardt and a brother-in-law, Wally Stopkey. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Lorraine.