Edgar F. Bruns, Jr. 81, of Belvidere, died Friday, August 10, 2007 in his home surrounded by family and friends following a long illness. Ed was born to Ella Card and Edgar F. Bruns, Sr. in Sterling, Illinois, July 1, 1926. He moved to Belvidere at age three, where he spent the rest of his life. He was educated in Belvidere schools and graduated from Belvidere High School in 1946 after serving in the United States Navy during WWII from July 1944 to July 1946 as Gunner Mate 3C. Ed married Patricia Henderson in June 1947. She succumbed February 12, 1979. Ed married Geraldine Oakley Pluff on August 9, 1981 at the Church by the Side of the Road, Rockton, Illinois, where he became a charter member of the council serving two years as their first president. He started work at Midwest Bottle Cap in 1946 and was foreman of the Tool Room and Maintenance Department from 1957 to 1962. He started work at the J.L. Clark of Rockford in 1962 in the Tool Room Department retiring on January 6, 1989 as Senior Lead Man. Ed became a member of the First Congregational Church of Roscoe, December 19, 1993 and served as Deacon from 1994 to 1996 and 1998 to 2003. He belonged to the Men's fellowship, the Wanibees and with his wife was on the welcoming committee for years. He was a member of the Belvidere Moose Lodge #295 and was trustee and prelate. He belonged to the American Legion and was Legionnaire of the Year and got his fellowship in 2002. He was a past member of the Winnebago Rifle Club and a charter member of the Pine Tree Jazz Club Rockford, Unlimited Jazz Club of Milwaukee, Tuleburg Jazz Fan Club of Stockton, Cal., Stumpton Jazz of Portland, Ore. And the New Reformation Jazz Band of Saginaw, Mich.Survivors are wife, Gerrie; son, Steve Bruns, Bloomington, Ill.; three stepsons, Gary (Kathryn) Pluff, Cross Plains, Wis.; Daniel (Sheri) Pluff, Elk Grove Village, Ill.; and Tracy (Melissa) Pluff, Deltona, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Stacy Bruns (William) Wieland, Japan; Benjamin Bruns Kirchoff, Batavia, Ill.; Jennifer Pluff, New York, NY; Alissa (Jason) Grams, North Bend Wash.; Alyson and Eric Pluff, Elk Grove Village, Ill.; Justin Pluff, Rockford, Ill.; Miranda Pluff, Deltona, Fla. Three great grandchildren, Sam Bruns Kirchoff, Batavia, Ill.; Mataya Marie Lynn Pluff, Rockford, Ill.; Noah Frederick Gram, North Bend, Wash.. One Godson, Dick (Linda) Henderson, Belvidere, Ill.; and many dear nieces and nephews. Four Sister-in-laws, Phyllis Oakley, Winnebago, Ill.; Juanita Oakley, Rockford, Ill.; June Oakley, Belvidere, Ill.; and Darlene (Aldie) Spooner, Largo, Fla.; Ed is preceded in death by his parents, two half brothers, Roy and Shirley Howard, son, Michael Bruns and stepson Rodney Pluff. Ed's family would like to thank O.S.F. Hospice for the care provided to him during his illness.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies. (C.F.T.S.) P.O. Box 66 Roscoe, Ill. 61073.or to Pastor Charles Home Funad at the same address. Arrangements by Buck-Wheeler-Hyland Funeral Home 218 W. Hurlbut Av. Belvidere, Ill.