Earl W. Bruening

July 28, 1913-May 2, 2004

Earl W. Bruening, 90, died Sunday (May 2, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook.

He was born July 28, 1913, to Richard and Mary Ann (Martin) Bruening in Hendley. He grew up in Hendley and graduated from Hendley High School in 1933.

On Oct. 28, 1936, he married Gemisca Ayars in O'Neill. They made their home in Hendley. During World War II, he moved to Petaluma, Calif., where he worked as a welder in the ship yards. They returned to Hendley after the war. The couple bought and managed a general store in Hendley for several years before he took a job at the Farmers Co-op elevator in Hendley in 1951. He replaced his father as manager of the elevator until his retirement in 1978 after 27 years of service. They moved to McCook in 2000 to be closer to family.

He was a member of the Hendley United Methodist Church and the Monument Masonic Lodge No. 293 of Arapahoe.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bernard; and sister, Mildred Longsine.

Survivors include his wife, Gemisca of McCook; one son, Ronald Bruening and wife, Judy of Omaha and Sandy Miller and husband, Keith of Trenton; brother, Roy and wife, Lois Bruening of Superior; eight grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Services are Thursday, 11 a.m., at First United Methodist Church in Beaver City with the Rev. Clark Bates officiating. Masonic Rites will be conducted at the church. Interment will be in Hendley Cemetery in Hendley.

Visitation is today and Wednesday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., at Wenburg Funeral Home in Beaver City.

Wenburg Funeral Home of Beaver City is in charge of the arrangements.