Rev. Donald R. Bruggeman

BRUGGEMAN, DINGBAUM

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 8/10/2018 at 10:27:50

Rev. Donald Ralph Bruggeman, 82, of Cedar Rapids died Monday, June 25, 2018, at The Gardens of Cedar Rapids. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m., Monday, at St. Jude Catholic Church by Archbishop‎ ‎Michael Owen Jackels. Burial: St. John Cemetery, Delhi. A Vigil Service will be held 3 p.m., Sunday at St. Jude Catholic Church where friends may visit with the family Sunday from 3 to 8 p.m., and Monday after 9:30 a.m. Teahen Funeral Home is serving the family.

Father Don is survived by a brother, Kenneth Bruggeman of Manchester; four sisters, Lou Mae Funke, Rose Ann (Don) Lyness and Doris (Jim) Corcoran all of Manchester, and Martha Huber of Delhi; 24 nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sister Jeanette Toomer; a brother Melvin Bruggeman; and three brothers-in-law, Ed Funke, Roger Huber, and Bob Toomer.

Father Don was born November 8, 1935 in Farley the son of Edward and Emma Mary Dingbaum Bruggeman. He graduated from Delhi High School, Loras College, and Mt. St. Bernard Seminary. He was ordained on March 17, 1962 at St. Raphael Cathedral in Dubuque by Bishop George Biskup. Father Don received Master’s Degrees in Guidance and Counseling and Secondary Administration.

After a brief assignment at St. Patrick Church in Cedar Rapids, Father became Associate Pastor at St. Mary Church in Waterloo (1962-1965) and taught at Columbus High School. He then entered full time school work with four years at Aquin High School in Cascade (1965-1969), then to Lenihan High School in Marshalltown (1969-1970). He served as a counselor and teacher at LaSalle High School in Cedar Rapids (1970-1974) and as a counselor at Columbus High School in Waterloo (1974-1977). He served as Principal of Marquette High School in Bellevue (1977-1984) and also served at this time as Pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Springbrook. After Bellevue, Father Don was sent to be the Executive Coordinator of Leo High School at Holy Cross, and Pastor of Holy Cross parish (1984-1987).

In July 1987, Father Don went into full time parish work at St. Jude Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids where he built a new church that opened in 1989. He was appointed Executive Coordinator of the Cedar Rapids Regis and LaSalle High Schools and was closely involved in the building of the new Xavier High School in 1997. He also served Holy Trinity parish in Walford (1991) in conjunction with his duties at St. Jude parish.

Father Don served as Pastor of Resurrection parish in Dubuque (1999-2002). He was the pastor of St. Athanasius in Jesup and St. Francis Barclay (2002-2006). His assignment also included being the Pastoral Coordinator of the Don Bosco System in Gilbertville. Father Don retired in July 2006. Following his retirement, Father resided in Cedar Rapids during the summer months and winters in warmer climates. He spent five months in Bluffton, South Carolina at St. Gregory the Great (2006-2007), and spent six months in Mesa, AZ helping at Holy Cross and St. Timothy’s parishes (2007-2008).

Thank you from Fr. Don’s family to the Gardens of Cedar Rapids for their care, and to Bob Heims, Mary Orth and Dr. Gina Perri for their help the past weeks.

Memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous.