Joan Bruggink passed away peacefully in her Sheboygan apartment on December 16th, 2024, at the age of 100 years. She was born October 6, 1924, in Sheboygan Falls, a daughter of the late Joe DeVere and Mavis C. (Scheffel) Sanford. She graduated from Sheboygan Falls High School, class of 1942.
On February 12, 1949 Joan was married to Allen John Bruggink at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Sheboygan Falls. The couple lived in Gibbsville for 30 years where Allen ran the business of Heinen & Bruggink in partnership with Lew Heinen. Joan and Allen moved to Sheboygan Falls after Allen sold his business, and he worked in Sales at Diamond Printing until his retirement. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with family and friends in 1999. Allen preceded her in death on January 11, 2002.
Joan was employed as a secretary throughout her life, working at the Sheboygan Falls High School, Heronymus & Co., Davis & Thompson in Milwaukee, Sheboygan Falls Mutual Insurance, and Vikwood Ltd. After retirement she volunteered as a secretary at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and served as secretary of the Falls Food Pantry for many years.
Joan worked with the Cub Scouts as a Den Mother for several years in Gibbsville and enjoyed taking them to the cottage at Cedar Lake. Joan and Allen spent many happy years at the cottage with their family and friends. She was an active life-time member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, where she was a member of the St. Francis Guild, taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and was the organist for over 25 years.
She is survived by two children, Cathy (Cecil) Gold, and Jeffrey (Janelle) Bruggink; four grandchildren, Heidi Bruggink (Joe) Sulman of Massachusets, Dean Goetsch of Florida, Tom (Edyta) Goetsch of Utah, and Jeannine (Daniel) Schlegel of Germantown; five great-grandchildren, Leah and Luke Schlegel, Benjamin and Matthew Goetsch, and Gabriel Sulman; nieces and nephews Lori (Michael) Place, Robert Sanford, Paul (Sandy) Bruggink, Thom (Susan) Bruggink, Marijane (Bruggink) Johnson, Betty (Wittman) Allen, David (Susan) Wittman, Robert (JoEllen) Wittman; and Relatives Barbara Zirwes (Roger) Nysse, Amanda and Patrick Mlinaz, Greg (Theresa) Zirwes, Jessica and Justin (Taylor) Zirwes.
She was preceded in Death by her parents, husband Allen, sister Evelyn Wittman and her husband Ervin, brother Frederic Sanford and his wife Carol, nephews Ronald, Russell and Randall Sanford, grandsons Michael Bruggink and Lew Wittman and brother-in-law Robert Bruggink and his wife Ruth.
A memorial service to celebrate Joan’s life will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Sheboygan Falls on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 11:30am with Rev. Paul Coey officiating. Family and friends may greet the family from 10:00am until the time of service. Inurnment will take place at Sheboygan Falls Cemetery.
We would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Lake House Sheboygan and Ally Hospice for their care and compassion.
A memorial fund is established in Joan’s name for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.
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