Mildred 'Miquie' Bruzek, 08 May 1929 - 21 Mar 2014

BRUZEK, KOEHN, SHEDA, TIMM, BENYSHEK, MALY, HAMED

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 4/8/2014 at 13:24:12

Posted: March 22, 2014 in The Gazette

MILDRED BRUZEK
Cedar Rapids

Mildred "Miquie" Koehn Bruzek, 84, of Cedar Rapids, died at Mercy Medical Center on Friday, March 21, 2014, following a brief illness. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday, March 24, at Trinity Lutheran Church, with Pastor David Renfro officiating. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel and after 9 a.m. Monday at the church. Arrangements by Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel.

Miquie was born May 8, 1929, in Victor, the daughter of Katherine Sheda and Henry Carl Koehn. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Victor. She attended St. John's Lutheran School south of Victor, then later moved to Marengo and eventually to Cedar Rapids. She met her husband, Stuart Bruzek of Cedar Rapids, when they were both students at Roosevelt High School. Stuart rode Miquie to school on the handlebars of his bicycle, her hair flying in the wind.

After she graduated from high school, she worked in the office at Penick and Ford. Later she moved to Des Moines and worked for the Department of Agriculture. She married Stuart in 1952. Following their wedding, they moved to Fort Belvoir, Va., where Stuart was stationed with the Army. While in the D.C. area, she worked for the General Accountability Office for "prices paid by farmers." After Stuart served in Korea, they returned to Iowa and remained in Cedar Rapids the rest of their lives, owning and operating Cedar Rapids Sheet Metal until Stuart's death in 2001.

Miquie and Stuart were lifelong members of the United States Power Squadron, spending glorious summer days exploring the Iowa waters with their children. Her active membership at Trinity Lutheran Church included serving in many different ways.

Miquie had a huge heart for helping people and animals, and she deeply loved the many dogs, doves and parrot she brought into her home, including her dogs, Essie and Lulu.

She was preceded in death by her husband; their son, Andrew; her parents; sisters, Irene Timm and Mary Benyshek; brother, Ervin Koehn; and brother-in-law, Bill Bruzek.

Surviving are three sons, Steven (Lori) of Cedar Rapids, Scott (Kirby) of Wheaton, Ill., and John (Emily) of Iowa City; and six grandchildren, Clare, Laine, Christopher, Tyler, Ella and Zachariah. She is also survived by a sister, Maxine (Ron) Maly of West Des Moines; sister-in-law, Kay (Bob) Hamed of Ohio; sister-in-law, Dorothea Bruzek of Michigan; and many nieces and nephews.

Miquie's faith was unwavering. She believed Jesus died and rose again for her sins and the sins of all people. Miquie now lives on in God's heavenly home, reunited with her husband, Stuart, and their son, Andy.

Instead of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or in Miquie's name to Dogs Forever at 809 Rockford Rd. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404. Precious lifesaving gifts may also be made to Blood Donor Service of Mercy Medical Center.

Online condolences may be left at www.cedar memorial.com under obituaries