George David Bruegger

Hundreds of people across Southern California lost a treasured friend with the passing of George D. Bruegger, 94, of Saugus, California on April 18, 2011. Known as the “Labrador Man”, George was one of the area’s premier breeders of quality Labrador dogs. His clients included Arnold Schwarzeneger and Maria Shriver, Kevin Costner, Marcus Allen and many other notables. He also provided beautiful and personable puppies and dogs for commercials, television and film. Yet most important to George were the non-celebrity families and the beautiful, healthy and intelligent puppies he placed into loving homes. His clients never forgot George and the extra time he took to educate them about their new family member and the time he took to instruct them in the training and healthcare of the Labrador. They showed their appreciation by showering him with pictures, letters describing their dog’s achievements, trophies their dogs won, Christmas cards with pictures, dogs bearing his name and even songs they wrote in his honor.

George was born on a dairy farm near Wabasha, Minnesota on August 13, 1916 to John and Mary Bruegger; he had four siblings. George graduated from Winona State College in 1938 and taught school and coached sports until the onset of World War II. He enlisted in the Navy and because of his considerable mechanical talent was promoted from Seaman Recruit to Chief Aviation Machinists Mate in three years. He also served in the Naval Reserve during the Korean War. At the end of World War II, his former Commanding Officer hired him as an Engineer with Chicago and Southern Airlines in Memphis, a forerunner to Delta Airlines. It was there he met Josephine Frazier, who would be his wife of 63 years. The couple had two children, George David Jr. and Beth.

In 1954 the family moved to Los Angeles, where George went to work for Lockheed. During his career there he worked on a variety of programs: the Constellation, F104, Cheyenne, S-3 and L-1011. From 1961 to 1962 the family spend 18 months in Germany while George helped the Luftwaffe develop a maintenance program for the F-104. He worked closely with Defense Minister Franz Josef Strauss and Colonel (later Lieutenant General and Commander of the Luftwaffe) Gunther Rall. George retired in 1983 as Manager of the L-1011 Maintainability Department and soon after became impassioned with Labradors and launched his kennel.

George is survived by his son, George David Bruegger Jr., daughter-in-law, Marley and grandson Tim of West Cobb, Georgia and his daughter Beth of Escalon, California.

Arrangements under the direction of Eternal Valley Memorial Park Mortuary, Newhall, CA.