Werner J. Bruggeman, 88, Maria Stein, passed away of natural causes on Feb. 9, 2014, at Celina Manor Nursing Home.

He was born Dec. 13, 1925, in Coldwater, to the late Edward and Catherine (Buening) Bruggeman. On April 18, 1951, he was married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McCartyville to Dolores Barhorst, who survives.

Also surviving are 11 children, Gerald (Kathleen) Bruggeman, Celina, Carol (Philip) Borchers, Russia, Annette (Daniel) Heyne, Coldwater, Marcia Neff, Fort Recovery, Nancy (David) Unrast, Maria Stein, Anthony (Linda) Bruggeman, New Bremen, Mark Bruggeman, Dayton, Angela (Edward) Petty, Russia, Julia (Chad) Kaiser, Fort Recovery, Beverly Bruggeman, New Bremen, and Janel (Jeffrey) Selhorst, Coldwater; 39 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, three stepgrandchildren; five siblings, Velma (Leonard) Dietz, St. Marys, Virginia Bruggeman, Portland, Ind., Mary Pierron, Osgood, Howard (Marlene) Bruggeman, Maria Stein, and Larry and Becky Bruggeman, Maria Stein; sisters and brothers-in-law, Doris Bruggeman, Maria Stein, Kay Bruggeman, St. Marys, Clarissa Barhorst, Russia, Clarissa Brinkman, Missouri, Lavern Schmit, Celina, Joseph (Wilma) Barhorst, Coldwater, Clarence Barhorst, Botkins, Marilyn (Ralph) Meyer, Coldwater, Emily Subler, Versailles, Ivo Braun, Portland, Ind., and Martha (Richard) Subler, New Bremen.

He was preceded in death by a son-in-law, David Neff; four brothers, his twin Virgil, Donald, and infants Edward and Harold Bruggeman; a sister, Eileen Otting; brothers-in-law, Joseph Pierron, Kenneth Otting and Lavern Bruggeman; and a sister-in-law, Mary Bruggeman.

He retired in 1973 from Beatrice Foods, New Bremen, where he had been employed 28 years. He also had worked for 14 years at Borchers Poultry in Russia. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. In his leisure time, he enjoyed playing the guitar and harmonica and entertaining his grandchildren at family gatherings.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. John the Baptist Church in Maria Stein, the Rev. Gene Schnipke presiding. Interment will follow at the church cemetery.

Calling is 2-8 p.m. Thursday and 9-9:45 a.m. Friday at Gehret Funeral Home, Fort Loramie.

Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Condolences may be expressed at www.gehretfuneralhome.com.