Henry Bruemmer Jr. of Crosby, passed away Nov. 26, 2014. He was born Jan. 25, 1925, in Algona, Washington to Gladys O. (Gay) Bruemmer and Henry Bruemmer Sr. He was a WWII Army veteran and served in Europe with the 334th Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division and was involved in several major battles including the Battle of the Bulge.

He earned a Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star Medal, European Theater Ribbon, Central Europe Campaign Ribbon with Bronze Service Star and a Purple Heart. He told a humorous story about being reported AWOL when he crossed the Atlantic on the wrong troop ship, the RMS Queen Mary, arriving in the UK ahead of his regiment.

He competed in rodeos, riding bulls and bucking broncs, then became a cattle rancher and logger. He was a mechanic who could fix anything and operate heavy equipment of all kinds.

His wife, Margaret Avery Bruemmer, sisters Violet Fischer and Betty Waltenburg and brother Don Bruemmer preceded him in death.

He is survived by his children, Peggy Stutzke, Rodney Bruemmer, Perry Bruemmer and Henry Bruemmer IV, 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

His sense of humor and amazing story-telling ability gathered friends daily for coffee at his home in Crosby. His family was very important to him and comforted him during his last days. He was generous, hard working, humorous and much loved by all who knew him.

A Celebration of Life will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Crosby Community Hall.