Willis F. Bruggemann, age 79 years, of Cairo and formally Pawling NY, passed on December 4, 2017, to be with The Lord at Columbia Memorial Hospital.
He was born on September 5, 1938, in Yonkers, N.Y. at home, and is the son of the late Frederick and Olive (Tryon) Bruggemann.
Survivors include his wife Virginia E. Bruggemann, daughter Allyson Helmich (Keith), daughter Elizabeth Countryman(Robert), son Clarence Breslin, brother Clinton and sister Gae, many grandchildren, sons Willis Bruggemann, son Thomas Bruggemann, son Walter Bruggemann ,and daughter Laurie Bruggemann.
Besides his parents, Willis is predeceased by his daughter Jeannine Luiso.
Willis was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He enjoyed doing the things that he loved, including boating, motorcycles, airplanes, painting, travelling, he was a maker of stained glass and he was also an avid animal lover.
He was employed as correctional officer, a salesman for Freight Industry, bartender and manager at The Catskill Elks Lodge, and was a family care provider for many years.
Memorial services were held at The Resurrection Lutheran Church, Routes 32 and 23B, Cairo, N.Y. on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 1:00 P.M. with Pastor Victor Nelson officiating.
I am greatly saddened to hear of my fathers death! Although we did not have much time together in this life, I am happy he had a family who loved him. I do however have fond memories of him when I was five or six. Like when we built and flew remote control airplanes together. It’s probably why I built and flew hundreds of remote control planes and even flew real acrobatic real planes in my life. I also remember him inventing an automatic car starter so he wouldn’t have to get in the car when it was cold. That’s obviously where I got my inventive mind from. He inspired me to be an inventor. I have many patents to my name of which this last one has become a tremendous success. I so wish I could have shared this and many other things with him. I know he would have been proud of me. Unfortunately for both of us, we did not get to know each other very well in this life and that fact contributes to my sadness. Rest In Peace old man, I hope to see you someday.
Thomas Bruggemann
