Merlyn Dean Bruggeman

Merlyn Dean Bruggeman passed away March 21 after a brief illness. He was born January 6, 1933 to parents Adolph “Pint” and Irene Bruggeman in Hoskins, Nebraska into a family of one sister and two brothers. He spent his early years helping on the family farm, and graduated from Hoskins High School in 1950. He served his country in the Army as a Corporal and in the reserves from 1953 – 1961. He was married to Maraleen Ann “Nikki” Callies in 1954. He attended the University of Nebraska where he graduated with a BS in Accounting in 1957. He became employed by Ernst & Ernst as a CPA, taking a position in Chicago, Illinois. In 1963, he accepted a position with Ernst & Ernst in Des Moines Iowa, eventually rising to the level of Partner in the firm. In 1983, he moved to Dallas, Texas to work for International Housing Systems. In his retirement years, he worked for Vickery Development in Dallas. Merle moved to Austin Texas in 2014, where he spent his final years at Cambridge Villas Senior homes, caring for his wife Nikki, who suffered from Alzheimer’s. Merle was a loving husband who always put his family first.

In his free time, Merlyn enjoyed family trips to the Black Hills of South Dakota, Estes Park and Steamboat Springs in Colorado, South Padre Island in Texas, and cruise vacations in the Caribbean.

Merlyn was predeceased by his parents, his sister Donna “Tootie” Peter, and his brother Gerald “Boog” Bruggeman. He is survived by his brother Dwight Bruggeman, his wife Nikki, and his four sons (Paul, Gary, John and Mark), 5 grandchildren (Sara, Eric, Judith, Andi and Gari), and 5 great grandchildren (Mason, Anthony, Taetum, Jonny, David, and Danielle).

Merle was a huge Nebraska fan, and had many friends across the nation among the Husker community. See a touching tribute those friends gave him at:

http://forum.huskermax.com/vbbs/showthread.php?83373-Merle

Please join us for a memorial service celebrating Merle’s life on July 8, 2016, 7:00 PM at Grace Lutheran Church, 416 Park Ave., Norfolk NE 68701 (402) 371-1044