Alfred Bruns

Al Bruns died at age 78 in an accident on September 4 at his farm home near Elsberry, Missouri. He was the beloved husband of Donna Hart and father to Jon (Debbie) Bruns , Joy (Jim) Luttrell, Joel (Regina) Bruns, and David (Karen) Hart. Al was blessed with grandchildren Christopher, Adam, Holden, Ryan, Sarah, Claire, Abby, Jackson, and Parker. He was the dear brother of Hazel VanCleve.

Al had a career as a systems engineer at Boeing Corporation for more than 50 years, enjoying and being challenged by many innovative projects. His passion, however, was centered on environmental protection. He was a past board member of East-West Gateway Coordinating Council and the St. Louis Coalition for the Environment. He was a member and tireless campaigner for the Sierra Club chapters in both Missouri and Illinois. In the 1970s, seeing the need for preservation of undeveloped land and forests in St. Charles County, Al organized SCENE, an environmental group to focus on local issues. A mutual devotion to wildlife and habitat conservation resulted in Al meeting Donna and they were married in 1978. Vacations always included hiking, backpacking, and appreciation of wildlife throughout the western US and in other countries and continents.

Both in St. Charles and Elsah, Illinois, Al was active in historic preservation. During his tenure on the Board of Trustees in Elsah, he was instrumental in protecting the historic character of the village. He and Donna have resided on wooded property in Lincoln County since 1989. Over the years, many dogs, cats, and horses have been cherished as companions, and Al made countless trips to World Bird Sanctuary, Wild Bird Rescue, Wildlife Rescue, and Animal Protection Association with injured or lost animals. His greatest pride was that his legacy of kindness and concern for all creatures survives in his children and grandchildren.

Contributions in lieu of flowers are encouraged to:

http://missouri2.sierraclub.org/

http://www.apamo.org/