Beatrice "Bea" Marie Bruggeman

Larchwood, IA 

     Beatrice “Bea” Bruggeman, age 91 of Larchwood, IA died Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.

     Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, November 10^th at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood, IA, with Father Francis Makwinja and Deacon Jeff Gallagher as celebrant.

     Burial will follow at Larchwood Cemetery in Larchwood, IA.

     Visitation will be Friday, November 9^th from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, with family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood. Also there will be a Vigil service at 7:00 PM at the church Friday evening.

     Beatrice “Bea” Bruggeman was born February 25, 1927 to Ben and Rose Gacke. Bea graduated from Alvord High School and went on to receive her teaching certificate.

     Bea met Robert “Bob” Bruggeman at a dance in Larchwood and on June 27, 1950, were married in Alvord, IA. Four children were born to this union, Gwen, Mark, Craig and Colleen. Bea and Bob raised their children on the family farm. The work days were long, but they saw the importance of taking a family vacation each summer. Bea was proud to be a dedicated teacher. Later in life she continued this dedication by being a CCD teacher at St. Mary Church for about forty years. She actively participated at St. Mary Church, the VFW Woman’s Auxiliary of Larchwood and many other community functions. Bea always lent a helping hand whenever she could.

     Bea will be remembered for the wonderful meals she prepared and sharing her baked goods. Bea and Bob loved to dance and continued this pastime throughout their married life, with square dancing and ballroom dancing. She also was an avid card player and could easily win a card game up until her final days. Her faith was an inspiration to many.

     Left to cherish Bea’s memory are four children, Gwen (Thom) Gmeinder of St. Paul, MN, Mark (Joli) Bruggeman of Larchwood, IA, Craig (Darla) Bruggeman of Sioux Falls, SD, and Colleen (Edgar) Armacanqui of Madison, WI; nine grandchildren: Eric and Diana Armacanqui, Jennifer and Jessica Gmeinder, Matthew (Kayla) Bruggeman and Laura (Jake) Stokely, Jayna (Robert) Fitzsimmons, Brianna (Nathan) Staton and Allison (Tyler) Blake; and ten great-grandchildren, Josie, Fracesca, Taylor, Avery, Allanah, Lane, Luke, Jase, Eric and Beatrice; many nieces, nephews and other extended family.

     She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Rose Gacke; her husband of 66 years, Robert “Bob” Bruggeman; four sisters; and two brothers; and daughter-in-law, Julie Bruggeman.