Brigl, Clemens

It is with sadness that we share the news of the passing of Clemens Brigl, 91, on March 19, 2013, at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. Funeral arrangements are being made for late summer of 2013 through Buehler-Larson Funeral Home, Mandan, N.D.

Clemens “Clem” was born in Huff, N.D., on Feb. 5, 1922, to Lorenz and Rosa (Thomas) Brigl, and was one of seven children. After growing up in Huff and finishing eight years of education there, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Seabee (Construction Battalion) and served his country during World War II (1942 to 1945) in the Pacific island battles of Guadalcanal, Tinian, and Okinawa.

After returning from the service he married Alice Meissner of Glen Ullin, N.D., in 1948 and was a father to two daughters and four sons.

During his marriage to Alice, Clem received his Doctorate of Education in Bloomington, Ind. After Clem and Alice divorced, he remarried Catherine (Cate) Schaeffer of Prophetstown, Ill., on June 9, 1974.

Clem and Cate raised three children from her previous marriage and settled in Arvada, Colo.

Clem was a tenured professor at Metropolitan State College in Colorado. Clem had previously taught college classes at Eastern University of Washington, Cheney, Wash.; and Lorado Taft University, Oregon, Ill. Even though Clem was busy teaching and raising children, he always found time to help others. He was a foster father to Roger Stair (Bucky) and sponsor to exchange student, Maria Ramirez, Peru, South America.

Clem loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and will continue to be cherished by all who knew him. All should take solace in his long and fruitful life with a peaceful end to his suffering.

He is survived by his sons, Terence Brigl of Indianapolis, Robert Brigl of Bowling Green, Ky., David (Boni) Brigl of Dixon, Ill., Daniel (Mary Beth McGuire) Brigl of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Jeff Schaeffer of Montrose, Colo., and Joseph (Lana) Schaeffer of Charlestown, Ind.; daughters, Jackie (Doug) Steakley of Carmel, Calif., Angie Miguet of Archamps, France, and Mary Harris of Denver, Colo.; brother, Julius

(Ginny) Brigl of Bismarck, N.D.; sisters, Marie Albrecht of Bismarck, N.D., and Sally Heck of Everett, Wash.; grandchildren, Solange, Amelia, Julia, Louie, Chloe, Maggie, Reid, Lee, Herrick, Amanda, Josh, Nicole, Seth, Marcus, Aaron, Phillip, Abby and Hunter; and three great-grandchildren, Braden, Lya, and Largo.

Clem was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother, Ida Brigl; wife, Catherine (Schaeffer); brother, Henry Brigl; sisters, Frona (Albert) Zeno, Amelia (Robert) Horneck; and brother-in-law, Reinie Albrecht.

Go to www.buehlerlarson.com to sign the online guest book.

Published March 31, 2013 in The Gazette