Donald Dean Bruns (1992)

BARNISH, BRUNS, DAYKEIPER, SCAR

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson
Date: 3/14/2011 at 08:50:38

The Gazette
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Tuesday, July 28, 1992
Page 2

Donald D. Bruns,65, of Chandler, Ariz., formerly of Cedar Rapids, died July 18 in Chandler Regional Hospital. Services were July 22 in Chandler.

Burial: Penn Center Cemetery, Earlham. Bueler mortuary, Chandler, in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include his wife, Alice; two sons, Chuck of Chandler and Craig of New Bern, N.C.; two daughters, Dianne Bruns of Mesa, Ariz., and Linda Barnish of Payson, Ariz.; his mother, Marie Bruns of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and a brother, David of Woodland Park, Colo. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, Edwin J. Bruns; and a brother, John.

Born in Cedar Rapids, he moved from California to Arizona 13 years ago. Before retiring three years ago, he was a construction contractor and owned Bruns Enterprises. He was a World War II Navy veteran and a member of Epiphany Lutheran Church in Chandler and a past member of the Lions Club.
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Obituary in Funeral Card
Bueler Chandler Mortuary
Chandler, Arizona

In the summer of 1927, Edwin John Bruns and Marie G. Keiper-Bruns were blessed with the birth of the first of three sons, Donald Dean. He was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. There he grew up with his brothers, David and Jon and many cousins, aunts and uncles. His childhood was filled with visits to the farm where “growing things” were planted in his heart.

Don’s father was an artist and the home was filled with things of beauty inspired by his hands and extended outward into the community where paintings and murals hung and he taught art to others. His mother blessed the home with a flair of her own and the fragrance of kolaches baking.

Don began his interest in “fix’n things” with his first car which he claimed to be the “fastest around”----probably topping out at 40 MPH!

He was in the Navy during WWII and then attended Iowa State College in 1947. His early instruction in walking with the Lord, influenced by parents and uncles who were ministers, followed him to college where he joined Gamma Delta (college version of Walther League). At one of the functions he met his future wife, Alice Laura Scar of Earlham, Iowa.

Don and Alice were married on June 26, 1949 in Cedar Rapids, IA. To this union four children were born-Linda Barnish, Dianne Bruns, Donald Craig Bruns and Charles E. J. Bruns. Don worked for Iowa Electric in his early years and later for various firms as an electrical engineer. His talent for diversity and his love of adventure led him into several business pursuits of his own in Woodland, CO.

Don was always an organizer and a helper wherever he saw a need. In their early married life they helped form a new mission church in Cedar Rapids, IA. At various times in his life he served as president of the congregations and filled a gamut of offices of the church. He also was president of the Lion’s Club.

In recent years he semi-retired from his remodeling business and spent more hours pursuing his passion—bringing awareness to the church of the needs of the hurting through his work with Aid Association for Lutherans. Don dedicated many hours and a large heart to collecting items for the garage sales, cleaning and delivering them. Don observed the biblical instruction to be God’s hands extended in every way he could. He was concerned that help be given with compassion and understanding in a way that was encouraging and uplifting to those in need. He understood that there are needs that are not as tangible and these too must be met. Don’s last day was spent working at the AAL garage sale and tending to his garden. It was important to him that the church understand this need and become a source through which God ministers to His people and by his own example put beliefs into action.

The Lord took Don home to be with Him on Saturday, July 18, 1992. His family will miss his presence—his mother, Marie Bruns of Pinellas, FL; his brother, David of Woodland Park, CO, his wife, Alice, and four children, Linda Barnish and her husband Richard, of Payson, Dianne Bruns of Mesa, D. Craig Bruns and his wife, Darlene, of New Bern, N.C. and Chuck Bruns of Chandler and ten grandchildren, Shawn, Jason, Keirstin and Shera Lyn; Joshua; Jennifer and Howard Day, Kamie, Micah and Stephanie Bruns.

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