Ralph R. Bruns

Ralph R. Bruns, 62, of Grand Island, died unexpectedly Thursday, June 23, 2011, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grand Island. The Rev. Jack Gillam will officiate. Burial will be in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery at Worms. Visitation will be Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Bruns was born on April 25, 1949, at Palmer, the son of Harvey W. and Merle G. (Kaiser) Bruns. He was united in marriage to Kay L. Nelson on August 26, 1973, at St. Paul. He is survived by his wife, Kay L. Bruns of Grand Island; one son and daughter-in-law, Danny and Rachel Bruns of Grand Island; two daughters and sons-in-law, Jennifer and Travis Clausen of Baxter, Iowa and Kayla and Chad Sheffield of Grand Island; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jerry and Mary Bruns of Grand Island and Don and Cheryl Bruns of Littleton, CO; and one sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Bob Sodemann of New Berlin, Wisc. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Cydra and Levi Bruns, Colton Clausen, and Caden and Chase Sheffield; and his mother-in-law, Florence Nelson of Grand Island. Ralph grew up in the Archer area and attended Zion Lutheran Parochial School at Worms through the 8th grade and then graduated from Central City High School in 1967. He then attended Milford Technical School where he studied auto mechanics. He then worked for Seim Well Drilling of Chapman for several years before he began his employment with Petersen Farms of Grand Island, where he worked for almost 40 years. He and Kay lived in Grand Island their entire married life. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Grand Island. Ralph always had a smile and was a friend to everyone. He always said his two greatest loves were his family and Petersen Farms. He lived for his family, especially his grandchildren and farming was truly his life. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Merle Bruns; and his father-in-law, Delven Nelson. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran or Zion Lutheran Churches.