Carl Michel Bruns

Carl Bruns, age 94, Willow Lake, died peacefully with family at his side on Saturday, April 6, 2013 in the Avera DeSmet Memorial Hospital at DeSmet. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 from 6-8 PM at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Willow Lake and will continue at the church on Wednesday at noon. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 2:00 PM in the Congregational United Church of Christ at Willow Lake with Pastor Rosanne Anderson officiating. The organist will be Janet Denman with Paul Erhke as soloist. Casketbearers will be Shawn & Ryan Warkenthien, Darin Zell, Darin Thoreson and Kevin Clark. Burial with full military honors provided by the Johnny-Fonken American Legion Post #113 of Willow Lake and the South Dakota Army National Honor Guard will follow in the Collins Cemetery at Willow Lake. He was born Carl Michel Bruns on January 31, 1919 in Rosedale Township by Doc Fleeger. His proud parents were Michel and Dora (Waldow) Bruns. He was the second child born to the family, Margaret being older and Grace younger. He attended school at the Rosedale School, across the road from the family farm. Later the family moved to Hague Township where he finished school in two different country schools. Following his schooling he helped on the family farm. In 1941 he traveled to visit his sister and husband, Margaret and Henry Reitz, to Michigan. While in Michigan, Henry was killed in a traffic accident that Carl was also in the car and he suffered broken ribs. While in the hospital he met Henry's younger sister, Louise who was 20 at the time. A relationship sparked and continued while Carl went off to war during WWII, serving in the United States Army. Louise continued writing Carl while he was in the service and after his discharge in 1945, Carl first visited family in Willow Lake and then left for Michigan to see Louise. Carl and Louise (Reitz) were married on January 13, 1946 in Michigan. Louise actually had worked as a "Rosie the Riveter" during his time in the service. The couple spent the next two years in Michigan and then moved to Willow Lake, settling on a farm west of town. They later moved to a home on the west edge of Willow Lake and Carl worked for Jim Brekke in the hardware store. He also will be remembered by many for his driving of the Willow Lake School bus. He assisted his family on the farm and continued working in Willow Lake also for Don Berg in the plumbing business and later heating/air conditioning. After his parents' deaths in the early 1970, Carl and Louise moved out to their farm and continued raising registered cattle, sows and crops. In 1991 they turned the farm over to a grandson, Ryan, and they moved into the east side of Willow Lake. Louise passed away just after their 59th anniversary in 2005. Carl has been a longtime member of the United Congregational Church. Carl will long be remembered for his love of woodworking and baking muffins. Many people, especially children, were proud recipients of a duck, his favorite pattern to make. He also made pheasants, beagles, eagles, swinging Susie's, snowmen, tulips, bunnies, chickens and even a Santa among other things. Carl always said, "People are good to me here", so Carl was always giving his creations out for others to enjoy and others in the community have shared their stories about his amazing home-baked blueberry muffins. Others will remember him for giving out mini-Bing Bars! Some of his other hobbies included gardening, especially tomato plants, hunting rabbits and pheasants and working puzzles, often framing many of them. Preceding him in death were his parents, wife, sister, Margaret (Orvan) McPeek, brothers-in-law, Henry Reitz and Ellsworth Bratland. Grateful for having shared in his life are his children, Susan (Roger) Batien of Watertown, Cindy (Marlin) Warkenthien of Willow Lake and Jeff Bruns of League City, TX, 6 grandchildren Shawn (Julie) Warkenthien, Ryan (Retta) Warkenthien, Amy (Darin) Zell, Nicole (Darin) Thoreson, Melanie Batien and Christy (Kevin) Clark; 13 great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Grant, Garett, Gwyn, Ginny, Mackenzie, Dylan, Cody, Emmet, Lily, Tanner, Damon and Ana. Also surviving him is his sister, Grace Bratland, currently living in Bryant. Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com