Mike Bruess, age 55, of Peoria, Ill., passed away on May 28, 2022, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.
A Celebration of Life was held at Quail Meadows Golf Course in Washington, Ill. on June 1, 2022. A visitation was held at Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home in Protivin, Iowa, on June 4 with a prayer service and interment immediately following at Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery in Protivin. Following the interment, friends gathered for a Celebration of Life held at The Mint in Protivin.
Mike was born to Cornell and LaVerne Sabelka Bruess on Oct. 20, 1966, in New Hampton, Iowa, grew up on a farm near Protivin, graduated from Crestwood (Cresco, Iowa) High School in 1984 and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
He moved to Peoria to work for RLI for over 20 years and later worked as a census taker, court researcher and statistician for Bradley University sports.
Mike lived life and enjoyed it to the fullest. He was passionate about everything he loved to do and brought light and joy with him everywhere he went. As the ultimate fan, he visited all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and was loyal to all his favorite teams — the Oakland A’s, Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia Flyers, Iowa Hawkeyes and the Bradley Braves. He loved watching movies, attended thousands of concerts, bowled and played softball and was a pizza connoisseur. Mike’s energy, warm spirit and sense of humor will be deeply missed.
Surviving are his mother, LaVerne of Cresco; his siblings, Karen Bruess (Mary Chval) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Kenneth Bruess of Protivin, Linda (Rich) Lechtenberg of New Hampton, Jean Ann Bruess ‘85 (Dean Rue) of Madison, Wis. and Chuck Bruess ‘93 (Angie) Bruess of Trivoli, Ill.; sister-in-law, Jill Bruess; his nieces and nephews, Matthew and Sam Lechtenberg, Megan (Jeff) Nesvik, Chas (Sami) Bruess, Chris and John Bruess and Jalynn (Tanner) Roberts; great-nieces and nephews, Alice and Colton Bruess and Calvin and Nora Nesvik; and his cousin and buddy, Dennis “Bubs” Bruess.
He was preceded in death by his father; brother, Gerry Bruess; and three infant siblings, Patricia, Mary Jo and Steven.
Memorial contributions may be made to the local Red Cross chapter or Holy Trinity Catholic School in Protivin.