The Rev. Donald Ralph Bruggeman

THE REV. DONALD RALPH BRUGGEMAN

Cedar Rapids

The Rev. Donald Ralph Bruggeman, 82, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday, June 25, 2018, at The Gardens of Cedar Rapids. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Jude Catholic Church by Archbishop Michael Owen Jackels. Burial: St. John Cemetery, Delhi. A vigil service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Jude Catholic Church, where friends may visit with the family Sunday from 3 to 8 p.m. and Monday after 9:30 a.m. Teahen Funeral Home is serving the family.

Father Don is survived by a brother, Kenneth Bruggeman of Manchester; four sisters, Lou Mae Funke, Rose Ann (Don) Lyness and Doris (Jim) Corcoran, all of Manchester, and Martha Huber of Delhi; 24 nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and -nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Jeanette Toomer; a brother, Melvin Bruggeman; and three brothers-in-law, Ed Funke, Roger Huber and Bob Toomer.

Father Don was born Nov. 8, 1935, in Farley, the son of Edward and Emma Mary Dingbaum Bruggeman. He graduated from Delhi High School, Loras College and Mount St. Bernard Seminary. He was ordained on March 17, 1962, at St. Raphael Cathedral in Dubuque by Bishop George Biskup. Father Don received master's degrees in guidance and counseling and secondary administration.

In July 1987, Father Don went into full-time parish work at St. Jude Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, where he built a new church that opened in 1989. He was appointed executive coordinator of Cedar Rapids Regis and LaSalle high schools and was closely involved in the building of the new Xavier High School in 1997. He also served Holy Trinity parish in Walford (1991) in conjunction with his duties at St. Jude parish.

Thank you from Father Don's family to The Gardens of Cedar Rapids for their care, and to Bob Heims, Mary Orth and Dr. Gina Perri for their help the past weeks.

Memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous.

For a complete obituary or to leave online condolences, visit www.teahenfuneralhome.com.