Obit: Bruchert, Leon (1926 - 1998)
Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: BUCHERT BRANDT BLUNCK STEIN BUSS REIHNGANS STARK SACHS

----Source: Steager Family Scrapbook Collection


 

Bruchert, Leon (1926 - 1998)

Withee Leon Swede Fredrick Bruchert, 71, Withee, Clark County, died June 11, 1998, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield, where he was admitted on June 5.

Funeral services will be al 11 a.m. Monday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Withee with the Rev. Tom Myhre officiating. Burial will be in the Bruchert family lot in riverside Cemetery in Withee.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Maurina Funeral Home in Owen and from 10 a.m. until service time Monday at the church.

Leon Bruchert was born Oct. 15, 1926, in Withee, the son of Fred and Emma (nee Brandt) Bruchert. He attended Withee Grade School and was a 1945 graduate of Withee High School. Following graduation he was drafted into the United States Air Force and served his country during World War II.

Leon and the former Betty Blunck were untied in marriage on July 25, 1953, at the Nazareth Lutheran Church in Withee.

Everyone remembers him as Swede. After his honorable discharge, Swede returned to Withee and in 1948 joined the staff of the State Bank of Withee as a teller, later cashier and retired as president of the bank in 1985, also serving on the board of Directors.

After recovering from heart surgery, Swede was employed with the Clark County Office of Aging. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, serving on the church board and was a former Sunday School Superintendent. In his past years, Swede was Scout Master for the Withee Boy Scouts, charter member of the Withee Lion s Club, Secretary/treasurer of the Riverside Cemetery and a volunteer for the American Heart Association.

An avid fisherman, he looked forward to escorting the Owen-Withee High FFA on their yearly Canadian fishing trip. Swede also coached the Owen-Withee Jr. High Basketball team. He enjoyed golfing and was a league bowler. Swede and Betty enjoyed gardening together.
He will be sadly missed by his wife of 44 years, Betty Bruchert of Withee two sons, Todd (Jacki) Bruchert of St. Paul, Minn., and Kurt (Roslyn) Bruchert of Eau Claire one daughter, LeAnn (Doug) Stein of Hudson two grandchildren, Lauren and Aaron Stein and his brother, Norbert Nibbs (Mae) Bruchert of Withee and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents two brothers, Bernard Bruchert and Leonard Bruchert and four sisters, Louise Buss, Laura Rheingans, Helen Stark and Irma Sachs.

The family request memorials be made in his name to the American Heart Association or St. John's Lutheran Church Accessibility Fund.