Philip U. Bruegeman, of Grangeville, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2024, at Syringa Hospital. He was born in Cottonwood, Idaho on September 7,1934, to Fred and Bernadine (Wassmuth) Bruegeman. He attended grade school at St. Joseph Catholic School in Cottonwood and high school at St. Gertrude's Academy.
He worked for and lived with the Wayne Eckert family from 1950 until he joined the army in January of 1954. On May 1, 1954, he married his high school sweetheart Norma Sarbacher at Ferdinand, Idaho and they lived in California, Kentucky and Alabama. Then they returned to the Camas Prairie in January 1956 and moved to Grangeville in July 1956, living there until his death. He worked for the local sawmills for 14 years, then at Brown Motors where he retired after 28 years. After a few months he went to work for JEM Machine for 6 more years. He then worked for both 7A Cabinets and Lenora's Custom Cabinets, retiring for good when he turned 80 years old.
Phil was very active in the Sts. Peter & Paul Church, being involved in the Knights of Columbus and the school PTA. He also spent 33 years as an officer of the Inland Lumber and Associates and the Pine Tree Credit Unions.
Phil enjoyed spending time with his family and friends going camping, 4-wheeler riding, fishing and hunting.
Phil is survived by his wife of 69 years, his son Ron (Carla) of Grangeville and daughters Linda (Chuck) Arnzen of Grangeville, Cheri (Mike) Crane of Clarkston, Janice Bruegeman (Tom Mangold) of Grangeville, Lisa (Rex) Snyder of Moscow. Also 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, and brothers Clifford (Connie) Bruegeman of Cottonwood and Bernie (Cheryl) Bruegeman of Grangeville.
Phil was preceded in death by his parents, brother Lawrence, sister Delories and brother-in-law Lyle Berg, brother Harold and sister-in-law Doris, sister-in-law Marilynn "Sam" Bruegeman.
A rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 22 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. The funeral Mass will start at 11:00 a.m. at the Church with the burial to follow at the Prairie View Cemetery, Grangeville. A dinner will be held at the parish hall after the burial. Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville. Send condolences to the family to blackmerfuneralhome.com.
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