Joel JB Ray Bruggeman 44, of Omaha, NE formerly of Brooks, MN died on December 4, 2002 at his home in Omaha.

Mass of Christian burial will be held 10:00 AM on Tuesday, December 10, 2002 in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Brooks with Father Tim Bushy Officiating. Burial at the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery at Brooks.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.

Joel Ray Bruggeman was born November 21, 1958 son of Larry Joseph and Viola Vi (Nurmi) Bruggeman at St. Johns Hospital in Red Lake Falls, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Brooks and attended public school in Oklee, MN. He worked on the oilrigs in Montana and logging in Washington. Joel worked highway construction and drywall construction; he also worked for Crystal Sugar and Minnesota Petroleum in Minneapolis and Vigen Construction. He was currently working as a heavy equipment operator for Negus and Son in Omaha.

Joel loved hunting, music and animals and entertain people through his humor. He was very creative and was always working under the hood of someones car, he attributed his mechanical abilities from his uncle Roy.

He is survived by his son Jake Ray Bruggeman, parents Larry and Vi Bruggeman of Brooks; brothers Larry Jr. Lars (Mary Ann) Bruggeman of Bellingham, WA; Kelan (Janell) Bruggeman of Brooks, MN; Kris (LeAnne) Bruggeman of Scandia, MN; Alan Ole (Rose) Bruggeman of Oklee, MN and Ross (Valerie) Bruggeman of Red Lake Falls, MN: sisters Lynette (Richard) Haugen of Thief River Falls, MN; Janell (Jay) Pelland of Warroad, MN. Uncles Gene Bruggeman and Roy Nurmi, aunts Audrey Lee, Joyce Iverson, Ruby Bruggeman, and Claire Bruggeman, and many cousins.

He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Frank and Zoe Bruggeman, Maternal grandparents Frank and Fanny Nurmi. Uncles Lloyde and Richard Bruggeman, aunt Dorothy Miller, cousins Dan, Steve and Peggy Bruggeman.