Lowell L. “Buzz” Bruening

Wednesday, February 22, 2017 5:57 pm

Lowell L. “Buzz” Bruening, 82, of Decorah, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, at the Mayo Clinic Franciscan Hospital in La Crosse, Wis. Visitation is Thursday, Feb. 23 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah. A private family burial will be held at a later date at St. Benedict Catholic Cemetery in Decorah with full military honors. Buzz would have been pleased if memorials were sent to St. Benedict Church Capital Campaign, 307 W. Main Street, Decorah, IA 52101. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com.

Lowell Lincoln “Buzz” Bruening was born Feb. 12, 1935, in Decorah, to Leo and Theresa (Baumler) Bruening. He attended St. Benedict School when he was young and graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1952. After graduating high school, he joined the Marine Corps for two years. Buzz married Sonja Berg Sept. 13, 1958, at St. Benedict Catholic Church. They lived in Dubuque, while he attended Loras College. To this union four children were born: De Layne, James, Gretchen and Wade. After earning a degree in business and spanish at Loras, he joined the Air Force and was stationed in Texas and Maine before moving back to Decorah in 1967. Buzz worked for Iowa Parcel for a number of years and was an independent US mail contractor for most of his life. Buzz had a long, fulfilled life and was the pillar of his family. He was a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church. He enjoyed his trips to the boat in Marquette and driving at his own pace. Buzz was a collector of many things and enjoyed his antique treasures, especially clocks. He had a wonderful sense of humor and if you caught him in the right mood you were one of the lucky ones to hear some of his great stories that were sure to keep you laughing. He will be deeply missed by all of his friends and family.

Buzz is survived by his wife, Sonja, of Decorah; his four children: De Layne Bruening, James (Denise) Bruening, Gretchen Bruening and Wade Bruening, all of Decorah; four grandchildren: Tauren Gess-Bruening, Sarah (Travis) Hagensick, Maxwell and Owen Bruening; two step grandchildren, Lexy (Ryan) Young and Lindsay Lloyd; one great-grandson, Joseph Gess-Bruening; his two siblings, Duane (Eileen) Bruening and Loma (Bruening) Carlson, both of Decorah; and one sister-in-law, Cheryl Novak of Spillville.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Theresa Bruening; one sister, Beverly White; and his in-laws, Wesley and Virginia Berg.