Douglas Vernon 'Doug' Bruns

DOUGLAS VERNON "DOUG" BRUNS

Redmond, Ore.

The family of Douglas Vernon "Doug" Bruns is sad to share the news of his passing on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021.

On Nov. 5, 1936, a little boy was born to Vernon John and Ivy Marie (Werneburg) Bruns in a farmhouse in the small western Iowa town of Vail. Doug would be the firstborn of three brothers that followed: Robert "Bob" in 1940, Wayne in 1944 and Russell in 1951.

Doug's childhood years weren't easy with a tough father and the responsibilities of farm life as the family moved from farm to farm in and around Sac City, Vail and Deloit in western Iowa and Strawberry Point and Quasqueton in eastern Iowa. Thankfully, those years were softened by the love, great cooking and kind heart of his mother.

After graduating from Quasqueton High School in 1953 at age 17, Doug joined the Army in 1954 under the G.I. Bill so that he could attend college and improve on his natural talent for fixing things. While serving his three years in the service, he was trained as a microwave radio mechanic and received the Good Conduct medal, the National Defense medal and the Sharpshooters badge. Upon completion of his time in the military in 1957, he spent a year at home on the farm before enrolling at Iowa State University to pursue an electrical engineering degree.

It was during Doug's year between the service and college that he would meet his future wife, JoAnn DeKeyser. They married on Oct. 17, 1959, in Strawberry Point. To this union were born their eldest child, Steven Douglas, followed by their daughter, Ann Elizabeth. Doug graduated a proud Cyclone in 1963!

The Iowa farm boy was able to see the world thanks to his many years of employment at Collins Radio/Rockwell International. His marketing skills took him places like Norway, Egypt, Israel, Kuwait and Greece. A special thrill during his work years was time spent working on the Apollo space mission. He was as proud of the certificate awarded him from that experience as he was his college diploma.

Doug's non-working hours were spent teaching his children how to fish, McGyver-ing all sorts of things in his workshop, taking Steve pheasant and duck hunting, watching meteor showers with Ann, trying to get JoAnn to like the outdoors and tending to the lawn like it was Augusta. He loved anything to do with guns and tinkering, the outdoors, cars, planes or motorcycles, and reading about outlaws, cowboys and the old west. Though engineering served him well, a cowboy life was his real dream.

The '80s were a decade of change for Doug as he and JoAnn divorced and Rockwell relocated him to Sierra Vista, Ariz., just to be followed by layoffs that included Doug. Not to be one to let grass grow under his feet, Doug took to the road ... literally. In the late '80s, he began driving motorhomes for delivery. With a car in tow, Doug traversed the U.S. delivering factory-fresh coaches to various dealerships. He loved this chapter of his life as he was always a rather solitary soul and loved wide open spaces. He had countless stories of incredible sunsets and storms, wild animal sightings and meeting friendly people everywhere.

A mecca of motorhomes, Central Oregon seemed the logical place to go to leave the 100° temps of Arizona behind so Redmond, Ore., became Doug's new home in 1999. He lived in a little house surrounded by several wonderful neighbors who became good friends. A potluck block party was held three or four times a summer and Doug loved showing off the cooking skills that he had honed over the years as a "single guy." He will be missed by the NW Elm Avenue gang of Lisa and Marty, Tommy, Jeannie and Gary, Kit and Kay, and Sandie.

Though the distance between Oregon and Arizona kept Doug from seeing his two grandsons, Alex and Andrew Bruns, very often, he loved them dearly and was very proud of them. He recently gloated to Ann that both grandsons not only remembered to send cards for his 85th birthday in November but that they even wrote letters ... a rarity for the younger generation these days.

Unfortunately, the last several years found Doug's health declining. Cocktails and cigarettes are hard enough on the body but Doug had experienced four kinds of cancers in the last 15 years. And though he came out cancer-free each time from prostate, bladder, lung and tongue cancers, the stress to the body became too much, requiring him to move into a skilled nursing facility in May.

Doug passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 15, at Marquis Centennial Care Center in Portland, Ore. He was 85 years, 1 month and 11 days old. A cowboy in heart and soul, and self-proclaimed HPD (High Plains Drifter), he is now most certainly riding off into a sunset guns a-blazing. Doug and his storytelling will be missed by all who knew him.

Doug is survived by his brother, Wayne Bruns, of Lakeville, Minn.; his son, Steve Bruns, of San Diego, Calif.; his daughter, Ann (and Don) Rotunno of Tewksbury, N.J.; his grandsons, Alex and Andrew Bruns, both of Flagstaff, Ariz.; and their mother, Lauren Bruns, of Tempe, Ariz.

He was preceded in death by his mother in 1965; his father in 1993; his brother, Russell, in 2002; and his brother, Bob, in 2004. And though not related, he was like a brother and Doug's best friend for half his life so his mention seems mandatory, Doug was also preceded in death by Terry Knox, who passed in 2016. Co-workers for years in Rockwell, partners-in-crime for decades in life.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Oregon in April 2022 followed by a second ceremony in Cedar Rapids in May 2022, specific dates to be determined. Doug had chosen to be cremated and will be buried with his parents, brothers and sister-in-law at the Strawberry Point Cemetery following the ceremony in Cedar Rapids. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to The Sierra Club (Doug was a longtime member and supporter) or to your favorite charity in Doug's memory.