Ernest "Ernie" George Bruns

Ernest George Bruns, son of Peter E. and Marie (Schmidt) Bruns, was born on the family farm north of George, Iowa on May 16, 1935.  He received Christ as his only Lord and Savior at the age of 5.  He received his education in George, Iowa.  He served in the U.S. Army from November 1954 to November 1956.  Overseas time was spent in Germany.

     Ernie was married to Betty Slykhuis on November 27, 1956 in Ashton, Iowa.  She passed away on April 14, 1995 in Spencer, Iowa.

     Ernie worked in the Ford Garage in Worthington, MN for ten months and then moved to Sheldon, Iowa.  While they were in Sheldon, they attended Bethel Reformed Church and he served as Deacon two times and Elder three Times.  While in Sheldon he worked at the Ford Garage as a parts manager.  In November of 1965 he began his work as a Route Salesman for Wonder Bread.  In 1986 they moved to Spencer, IA.  After working for 30 years with Wonder Bread he retired in November of 1995.  He then worked as a part time custodian at Hope Reformed Church for three years.

     His daughter, son and his three grandchildren were the pride of his life.  He loved being with them and hearing their voice when they grew up and moved away.  Ernie enjoyed photography from developing his own pictures to digital photograph.

     He married Marlene Hulstein on September 26, 1998 in Spencer, Iowa.  He was a member of Hope Reformed Church in Spencer where he served as an Elder three times.  He enjoyed music, singing in the choir and being on a praise team.  He also served as a Grandparent Youth Sponsor for the Senior High Youth group starting in 2008 till 2012.

     He had a passion for volunteer work overseas as well as at home.  He worked with CRU in Russia, Spain, Turkey, China, France and Africa.  Helping to sponsor new languages of the film, Magdalena, Released from Shame, as well as going to Malawi, Tanzania, and Kenya, Africa for the first showing was very dear to his heart.  He also helped sponsor the film in Madagascar.  He worked in Haiti, Mexico, and Nicaragua, and with other projects with the RCA, CRU, and CRWRC.  He also worked at Bible camps in Montana, Minnesota, Michigan, but most often at Inspiration Hills, which he called his Home in the Hills.  Sharing the love of Jesus in any way was important to him.

     He is survived by his wife, Marlene, a daughter, Linda of Sioux Falls, SD, a son Lyle of Sioux City, IA and three grandchildren, Brittney and husband Cory Vander Lugt from Sioux Falls, SD, Blake and wife, Stephanie Bruns from South Sioux City, NE, and Bailey and husband Evan Jensen from Oldham, SD, and one great grandson, Kinzer Vander Lugt, two great granddaughters, Keira Vander Lugt, and Rylan Jensen, a sister, Shirley, and husband Val Cudnoski of Lubbock, TX and other relatives and friends.

     Ernie passed away on April 13, 2021 at the Spencer Hospital at the age of 85.  He is preceded in death by his wife, Betty Bruns and his parent’s Peter and Marie Bruns.

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