William Douglas 'Bill' Bruster

William Douglas Bill Bruster, 93, of LeGrand, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, December 17, 2013, at his home under the care of the Iowa River Hospice Home after suffering from pulmonary fibrosis. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Iowa River Church of the Brethren 2013 Wallace Avenue in rural Marshalltown. Visitation will be prior to service time from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. also at Iowa River Church. For more information or to send a condolence please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call (641)844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Bill and his family. Bill Bruster was born on January 14, 1920 in Marshalltown, Iowa; the son of Emerson G and Marie C Navara Bruster. Bill was raised and educated in the Marshalltown School District and began working at Lennox Furnace Company. On June 6, 1941, Bill was united in marriage to Evelyn E Kouba of rural Montour, and they resided in Marshalltown. On July 2, 1942, Bill was inducted into the United States Army as an infantryman. He became a platoon leader with the 66th Panther Division in the European Theater during World War II. He received the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained in Brittany, France. In December of 1945, after serving for 3 and a half years, T/SGT Bruster was honorably discharged. In 1950, Bill moved his family to a farm North of Montour where they remained for seventeen years. Bill went to work for Frimml Heating as well as Hinton Heating and Cooling. In 1967, Bill and Evelyn built a home in LeGrand, and he was called back to work for Lennox Industries. When his department moved to Plano, Texas, he declined so he could stay with the family. Bill then began to work for Winters Construction. Bill was a devoted family man. He was organized and methodical. He had a passion for carpentry and loved to work in his shop. Bill also loved league bowling up until age 92. Bills last ball was a strike he threw to open a tournament in Marshalltown. He also liked to duck hunt and fish. Bill was an excellent semi-pro baseball player, playing with the Ansons and other area teams. Bill was a member of the Iowa River Church of the Brethren, served on the LeGrand City Council and was a member of the senior card club. Left to cherish his memory is his devoted wife of seventy two and a half years; Evelyn Bruster of the home; three children, Douglas R (Sharon) Bruster of Conrad, and Iron River, Michigan, Susan D Eckard of Stanberry, Missouri and Julie A Cermak of Carlisle. Seven grandchildren: Deidre (Scott) Tasler of Bristow, Virginia, Jessica (Jagger) Copley of Cedar Rapids, Blake (Sidney) Eckard of Stanberry, Missouri, Natasha Eckard of Washington D.C., Ashleigh Cermak of San Diego, California, Alison Cermak of Ames, and Adriana (Casey) Elmore of Carlisle. Two step-grandchildren: Brooke (Marc) Lallaman of Portland, Oregon, and Scott (Leslie) Jones of Kansas City, Missouri. Eight great-grandchildren: Zachary, Clay and Paige Tasler, Evan, Amelia, and Gabriel Copley, and Blanche and Harlan Eckard. Sister Betty (Ralph) Koger from Boone. Sisters-in-law: Marian Otta of Hubbard, Frances Howard of Marshalltown, and Carol Kouba of Toledo; and brother-in-law George Kouba of Garwin. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his son-in-law Scott Eckard, five brothers-in-law and 2 sisters-in-law.