Leonard Arnold Bruss

Leonard Bruss, age 91 of Echo, Minnesota passed away on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at Season’s Hospice House in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July, 22, 2013 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Granite Falls. Visitation will be from 4-7pm with a prayer service at 7pm on Sunday, July, 21, 2013 at the Sunset Funeral Home in Echo, Minnesota. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association is caring for the family. Online condolences may be placed at www.sunsetfuneralassociation.com Leonard A. Bruss was born on May 11, 1922 on the family farm to Albert F. and Emilie (Bahn) Bruss in Echo Township, Yellow Medicine County. He was baptized on June 4, 1922 by Reverend J. Brauer, and confirmed on May 17, 1936 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Posen Township. Leonard attended Country School #61 south and St. Luke’s Parochial School. He attended and graduated from Echo High School in 1940. On September 2, 1950, Leonard was united in marriage to Marjorie Dietz at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Vesta, Minnesota. Leonard helped his dad farm until 1948, when he took over the original Echo Township family farm and in 1950 he bought his dads other farm in Sioux Agency Township and has resided there since. His 32 years of farming and dairying kept him busy with his favorite John Deere machinery. He has served as church secretary, was on the church school board, was an Elder, and Trustee at several churches over the years. He was currently a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Granite Falls, MN. Leonard enjoyed singing in mixed and men’s choirs and as a quartet. He especially enjoyed playing by ear on his Kawai organ in his retirement years. They traveled by car and tent to 49 states visiting many National Parks, State Parks, and historic sites, hiking many trails, and fishing the Yellow Medicine river. Leonard also enjoyed downhill skiing which he did until the age of 88. On Tuesday, July 16, 2013, Leonard passed away at the Seasons Hospice House in Redwood Falls, Minnesota at the age of 91 years old. Grateful for having shared his life is his wife, Marjorie of Echo; one daughter, Susan (Dennis) Bauer of Cedar Falls, IA; three sons, Stan (Kathy) Bruss of Mankato, Ken (Mary) Bruss of Lenexa, KS, and John (Jeanne) Bruss of Cottage Grove; thirteen grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one brother, Orville Bruss of Bloomington; one sister, Adella Vogt of New Hope; brother-in-law, Rev. Dr. Michael (Karla) Dietz of O’Fallon, MO; sister-in-law, Ruth Bruss of Milwaukee, WI, and many nieces and nephews. His parents, brothers, Erwin, Walter, Albert Jr., and Delbert Bruss, sisters, Luella Saeger, Emily Prestegard, and Erna Christenson preceded him in death. Memorials preferred to Hospice or the donors choice.