Gene Brugman

Gene (Englert) Brugman, the daughter of Lamar and Ruth (Schuck) Englert, was born March 4, 1925 at home near Royal, IA. She was the oldest of twelve children and spent part of her childhood caring for her younger siblings. After her graduation from Royal High School she went to work at the Spencer Reporter. She enjoyed going to dances, which was where she met Emil "Bud" Brugman, whom she married on June 20th, 1946. Four children were born to this union: Kathleen, Dean, David and Colleen. Throughout their marriage Bud and Gene farmed in the Royal, Hartley, and Peterson areas. Gene and Bud enjoyed participating in the Royal Church Bowling League with good friends from the area. Gene was an active member in the family farming operation. She regularly prepared meals for a large crew or ran to town for machinery parts. Gene often drove the "lunch wagon", an old camper, into the field with lunch for the guys. Gene was baptized and confirmed on March 5, 1950 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Royal. She remained a member there until 1986 when she transferred her membership to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She enjoyed participating in the women's groups at both churches. Gene was very active in church and community activities including the VFW Women's Auxiliary and the Royal Federated Women's Club. Gene was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved the rural lifestyle and visitors were always welcome in her home. In her retirement, she enjoyed golfing, traveling with friends, attending her grandchildren and great-grandchildren's activities, and driving her little red Pontiac around northwest Iowa. One of her favorite monthly activities was joining her longtime Royal friends for birthday coffee. Gene was preceded in death by her husband of nearly forty years, Bud Brugman; her son, Dean; her parents; and two brothers, Bernard Earl and Charles Englert. She is survived by two daughters, Kathleen (Paul) Unterbrink of Primghar, IA; Colleen (Kurt) Beatty of Atlanta, GA; a son, David (Sue) Brugman of Royal; and a daughter-in-law, Karen Brugman of Royal; ten grandchildren: Darin (Sarah) and Kevin (Kimberly) Unterbrink; Danny (Darcy) and Dana (Crystal) Brugman and Wendy (Mark) Gaskill; Betsy (Jake) Schoelerman, and BJ and Laura Brugman; Emily and Matthew Beatty; nine great-grandchildren; seven sisters: Dorothy Gray of Romulus, Michigan; Shirley (James) O'Brien of Millbank, South Dakota; Aurie (Ben) Urban of Clarion, Iowa; Helen Burton of Phoenix, Arizona; Patti (Fred) Hobaica of Phoenix, Arizona; Marge (Jim) Barglof of Spencer, Iowa and Karen (Johnny) Bentley of Pinedale, Arizona; two brothers, Ron (Jan) Englert of Spencer, Iowa and Rich (Judy) Englert of Everly, Iowa, and many other relatives and friends.

SERVICES

OFFICIATING

CASKET BEARERS

VISITATION

MUSIC

INTERMENT