Mar 13, 2008

Bearl H. Bruffett Sr., 78, of Milan, Ill., died March 3 at his residence. Funeral services were held at 12 noon Friday at Family Funeral Services, Milan, Ill., with burial in Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, Ill. Mr. Bruffett was born Nov. 27, 1929, at Hammond, Mo., the son of Vernie L. and Ida (Roberts) Bruffett. On Jan. 26, 1957, he was married to Judy Lee Proksch, at Milan, Ill. She preceded him in death Dec. 29, 1972. Also preceding him in death were his parents and three brothers, Leonard, Henry and Earl. Bearl retired in 1985 after 25 years of service to I.H. Farmall in Rock Island, Ill. He enjoyed pitching horseshoes and had attended the world championships over the years. He was a member of the Moline and Reynolds horseshoe clubs and the Illinois State Horseshoe Pitchers’ Association, and the National Horseshoe Pitchers’ Association. He was also an avid golfer, bowler and fisherman. His favorite fishing hole was at the steel dam in Milan while watching eagles soar. He was a veteran of the United States Army, and was a sergeant and sharpshooter in the Korean War. He was also an Airborne Ranger. He was honored and chosen to guard the Peace Talks in Korea in 1953. Survivors include his son, Bearl Bruffett Jr. and wife, Denise, Rock Island, Ill.; daughters, Phyllis Bruffett, Coralville, Iowa, and Penny and her husband, James Obermann, Schaumburg, Ill.; a granddaughter, Kaylee Bruffett, Rock Island, Ill.; three sisters, Pearl (Ted) Casey, Prineville, Ore., Jerlene (Charles) Seeley, Prinveville, Ore., and Erma Lee (Ralph) Madden, Osawatomie, Kan.; and two sisters-in-law, Charlotte Bruffett, The Dalles, Ore., and Norman Bruffett, Prineville, Ore.