Elmer “Junior” Bruggeman was a Parts and Service Manager for us years ago and retired about 10 years back to volunteer and work in the community. This week JR. also went to get with Ron Pierce and God. It was irony that he and Rons obituaries were both in the Baxter Bulletin today. While he was not a functioning member of the staff he stayed in touched as late as last week. In the morning he brought donuts out in the morning just to visit, until recent times. Bass Cat, President Rick Pierce commented on Jr; “Jr was an excellent man who valued his family and his customers. He looked to help them and kept a little spiral notebook for phone calls in his shirt pocket. We missed him when he retired and we looked forward to seeing him visit the shop. I spoke to his son Jason in late October and Jr. was still trudging along while dealing with the issues before him. He had an excellent knack for making customers comfortable. Now he himself is getting the best comfort we all can. Its been a week where I understand what they are going through.”Junior retired sometime after reaching his mid 60s and remained a welcome fixture at the facility. He certainly went from cars to boats with ease. The staff remembers Jr as a caring individual who shuffled along at a fast pace and almost always got the phone calls. His efforts were a major portion of building the service platform that earned Bass Cat its JD Power and Associates awards. Junior will be missed by many and his obituary follows.BCBObituary for Elmer “Junior” BruggemanA Funeral Service for Elmer “Junior” Bruggeman of Mountain Home, Arkansas, will be 2:00 pm, Saturday, December 10, 2016, at Kirby & Family Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Randy Ludwig officiating. Visitation will be Friday, December 9, 2016, from 5:00 until 7:00 pm, at the funeral home.Junior passed away December 5, 2016, in Mountain Home, Arkansas at the age of 80. He was born April 6, 1936, in Lake City, Iowa, the son of Elmer John and Pearl Rabbe Bruggeman. He married Gail Matthews on December 19, 1976, at Paragould, Arkansas and worked as a service manager for Kent Chevrolet and later in parts logistics for Bass Cat Boats. Junior was a U.S. Army Veteran. Junior lived in Mountain Home since 1971, moving from Denison, Iowa. He enjoyed fishing, being around people and his cat, Sadie.Junior is survived by his wife, Gail Bruggeman of Mountain Home, AR three sons, Devin (Stacie) Bruggeman of Navarre, FL, Jerald Bruggeman of Wichita, KS and Jason (Teresa) Bruggeman of Mountain Home, AR; stepson, Danny Matthews of Springdale, AR; two stepdaughters, Debra Harrison of Watts, OK and Laura Gwatney of Fayetteville, AR; brother, Larry Bruggeman of Lake City, IA; two sisters, Shirley (Frank) Pickins of San Antonio, TX and Linda (Bill) McCrea of Lake City, IA; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Janet Horning. Entombment will be in the Kirbys Tucker Memorial Mausoleum, Mountain Home, AR, with Jason Bruggeman, Jerald Bruggeman, Devin Bruggeman, Roger Renfro, Bill McCrea and Roy Renfro as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Frank Pickins and Jacob Bruggeman. Military Honors will be provided by the V.F.W. Post #3246 and United States Army Honor Guards.Memorials may be made to the Red Cross or Serenity, Inc. Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services.
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