Don Bradley Bruns was born in Hartley, Iowa, on August 7, 1955, and he died
at the age of 59 in Johnstown, Colorado, on September 16, 2014. Don heroically battled
liposarcoma (a rare form of cancer) for 3 1/2 years. He was the 4th of five
children born to Louis and Sadie Bruns. Don lived and went to high school in
Sheldon, Iowa, where he was on the wrestling team. Don exhibited his work ethic
as a youngster, as he worked at the hospital, the airport, and painted houses
while still in high school. After graduating from Sheldon High School in 1973,
Don attended Iowa State University, where he earned degrees in Economics and Business
Management.
Don married Pamela Watts on June 30, 1979, in Newton, Iowa. Don and Pam met
while attending Iowa State University, and they married six months after Don’s
graduation. Don and Pam moved many times through the years as Don steadily
moved up the ladder in the health care insurance field (medicare and medicaid).
They celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in June of this year.
Don started his insurance career with EDS, and from 1979 to 1982 his work
with EDS took him to Wichita, Kansas, Columbia, Missouri, Jefferson City, Missouri,
and Marion, Illinois. He then worked for General American Life Insurance Company
in St. Louis, Missouri, for a very short time, and then he started his career
with Consultec, Inc. With Consultec, Don worked in Jefferson City, Missouri, Helena,
Montana, back to Jefferson City, and then to Tallahassee, Florida, where Don
and Pam spent 15 years. In early 2004, Don retired, and Pam and Don moved to
their vacation home in Granby, Colorado. Within four months, Don grew restless,
and he went back to work for Fox Systems, Inc (which became CognoSante), until
he had to step down due to his cancer. With Fox, Don worked in Bismark and then
Fargo, North Dakota.
Don loved identifying and nurturing the strengths and skills of managers
in training in order to advance their careers. Don had so many skills, including
diplomacy, conflict resolution, sound judgement, and leadership abilities, to
name just a few. He was trustworthy, dependable, and he treated everyone
fairly. Don was a toastmaster, and he encouraged all of his managers to learn
to speak in public.
Shortly before his diagnosis, Don and Pam bought a small ranch near
Wellington, Colorado. Don put so much work in to bringing the old dilapidated
buildings back to life, cleaning up the yard and pastures, and fixing up both
homes on the property. Don did all of this while battling his cancer. He could
fix or do anything. Don especially enjoyed all of the animals on the ranch,
especially his little dog Barley.
For the last two years, Don volunteered with the Fort Collins Bike Coop. He
served on the board of directors, and he was a volunteer bike mechanic in the
shop. He would help individuals work on their bikes, and he would also teach
them how to take care of their bikes. He built custom wheels for the coop from both new and used parts. He was very proud of the services
provided to the community by the Bike Coop, and he helped find the building
that the Coop just purchased.
Don was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Wellington, Colorado. He
enjoyed putting the pictorial directory together for the church and getting to
know all of the members. Zion’s minister, Mark, helped Don in so many ways as
he progressed through his journey with cancer.
Don is survived by his wife, Pamela, siblings Dr. David (Joyce) Bruns of
Lafayette, Indiana, Diane (Harold) Feldkamp of Sibley, Iowa, Dennis (Susan)
Bruns of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Rev. Dean (Dr. Cristy) Bruns of San Juan
Capistrano, California, along with many cousins, nephews, nieces, church
family, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Louis Bruns (1963) and Sadie Bruns
(2008).
There will be a memorial service for Don at Zion Lutheran Church in Wellington, CO on
September 27th, 2014, at 11:00 A.M. A luncheon at the church will
follow. Don's ashes will be scattered in all of the places that he loved.
Don is now resting in peace with the Lord. Thanks be to God!
Please share your memories and comments with everyone who knew and loved
Don.
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If you would like to make a memorial contribution, the family invites you to
make memorial contributions to Zion Lutheran Church or to the Fort Collins Bike
Coop in Don's honor.
Zion
Lutheran
Church
Fort Collins Bike Coop
8322 Second
St.
331 N College Ave
Wellington,
CO
80549
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Cards can be sent to: Pamela Bruns
10000 N CR 3
Wellington, CO 80549
The following information is being provided due to the small size of Wellington, CO. Flowers can be ordered from Palmer Flowers in Fort Collins. They have a
delivery charge, so just tell them to call Pam (970) 531-3606 and someone can pick them up. Plants can be
ordered from the Fort Collins Nursery, and they also can be picked up by
someone.
Plants
Flowers
Fort Collins
Nursery
Palmer Flowers
970-482-1984
970-226-0200
Please enter your comments and memories of Don here.
ReplyDeleteDon was very loved by us. He was a wonderful brother and also a loyal friend to us. He will truly be missed by us.
ReplyDeleteDennis and Susan
I have so many memories of Don. We met almost forty years ago when we were students at Iowa State, as he was Pam's boyfriend way back then. Pam and I were college roommates, and Don lived in a basement apartment nearby. We spent a LOT of time together, one summer we all worked at 3-M company in Ames, that was a fun summer. I remember I bought a record player and speakers and Don set it up, and we listened to albums all summer, and even way back then we spent a lot of time playing with all of our animals! Pam and Don were always meant to be together. Through the years George and I kept in touch with Pam and Don, and we had lots of visits back and forth. After we got e-mail back in the early 90's it was easier to stay connected. Pam always followed Don without question when they moved, and I know how happy they were together. She was his rock throughout his ordeal, and I know how grateful he was for her, as he told me that, more then once. Don met his cancer head on, and he never gave up. He taught me many lessons. A couple years ago he gave me a marble and he said, this is your good luck charm! I have kept that marble in my purse ever since, and whenever I take out my billfold, the marble reminds me of Don. I will always remember and miss Don. He was an extraordinary person. Love, Gerianne and George
ReplyDeleteDon was a mythical figure to me for many years. I met Pam in Granby, through our Border Collies, and it took several YEARS before I actually met the MAN!! He lived up to the Myth though!! He was one of the hardest working people I have ever known and had a quick wit.... He was such a gracious soul and I loved every minute I got to spend with him and Pam. He will be missed. He is with our Lord now and at peace. God Bless you Don!!
ReplyDeleteAs the older brother I always remember Don as the gentle, peaceful sibling. He always seemed to be sweet. He made peace when possible, even in the midst of turmoil. We will miss him.
ReplyDeleteDon and I met and worked alongside one another at the Bike Co-op, and didn't let our health challenges get between us, our clients, other velonteers, or their bikes. His kind heart, diplomacy, experience, and professionalism made him an asset we put right to work. My wife Pat and I, all of the Co-op client "customers" and velonteers, as well as his shop bench full of tools painted red will miss him dearly.
ReplyDeleteI had the great fortune to get to know Don during the past two years at the Bike Co-op. He was a fun, reliable, and stable addition to our organization and Board of Directors. He was instrumental in finding the future home of the Co-op. I'll always remember a fortune cookie message which Don left for me when I had returned from climbing Kilimanjaro. It said "Great things happen when men and mountains meet". Knowing Don was that "great thing"!
ReplyDeleteI was privileged to have had the opportunity to work with Don for several years at Fox Systems/Cognosante. Don was an incredible human being who had my deepest admiration and respect. I always told him and anyone else who would listen that if I had the ability to clone anyone, he would be one of two in the universe I would consider for it. He was to everyone he worked with a respected leader, mentor, friend and subject matter expert in his field who gave 150% always. I will carry Don in my heart always.
ReplyDeleteWe met Pam when we got our amazing Border Collie, Roc, from her. This past summer we finally had the opportunity to meet Don at a herding clinic at Gerianne's. It was so interesting hearing Don's stories of Roc as a puppy, and seemed like we had known Don for years. What an amazing man! He will be missed by many and will live on through all of the memories people have of him. We feel very lucky to have met him........ Dave and Deb Landon
ReplyDeleteI had the honor of meeting Don on several occasions while working with Cognosante (formerly Fox Systems). He was very proud of the team in Fargo, ND and humbly declined any compliments surrounding the building of that team in lieu of high praises for the entire team there. He is and will continue to be a model for business and community service. Ruth Kaufhold, Senior Consultant, Cognosante.
ReplyDeleteI had the privilege to make acquaintance of Don at the Fort Collins Bike Co-op when I was there to build my bike. We had a common topic for conversation as we were both alumni of Iowa State University. Although there was a big class gap between us, we could still relate to Ames and the university. Our conversations were brief and I didn't even know he had cancer, he successfully fooled me and all of his customers with his cheerfulness and energy. Don was very friendly and approachable, he taught me how to use a casette tool to remove a cassette, that is something I will never unlearn and I learned it because of Don. It's the littlest things that make a person special and memorable, may he rest in peace.
ReplyDeletefrom a Fort Collins Bike Co-op customer and fellow Cyclone, Kennard Lai
I will miss Don's easygoing presence and ability to make everyone else feel comfortable (even when he was probably not feeling so comfortable himself). He was such a gentle soul, always very positive with a generous spirit, happy to help out whenever he was needed. I still smile at the memory of Don, dressed in shorts and muck boots, rifle slung over his shoulder, grinning and ready to take on the evil rattlesnake threatening the dogs on the farm the evening before a clinic. I will remember Don very fondly.
ReplyDeleteI was a residence hall mate (Stalker House/Helser Hall) of Don's at Iowa State. Don (we called him "Bruns") was a great guy- always an optimistic, upbeat, reliable, good-natured presence in any situation. I lost track of him after I graduated in late 1974, but am happy that he had a great life.
ReplyDeleteI remember Don, while working for him at Consultec INC, in Jefferson City, Missouri. Don was our executive director, and was an outstanding individual who always promoted fairness. He took me under his wing there and taught me some life lessons that my parents did not. I remember when he bought his Porsche, and got a speeding ticket - he then taught all of us in the mailroom a lesson about driving. Inplayef softball with him, helped him move at least once, and always looked up to him. The world is a less place without Don Bruns! I'm sorry I lost contact with him and am sorry to hear of his passing.
ReplyDelete