Howard Brua, 85, Albert Lea

Published 10:46 am Monday, March 11, 2013

Memorial services for Howard G. Brua will be on Tuesday at 2 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Al Stoa will officiate. Interment will be at a later date. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at church.

Howard Brua passed away on Thursday, March 7, 2013, at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea. He was 85 years old.

Howard Brua

Howard was born in Albert Lea on Dec. 20, 1927, to Leonard and Minnie (Oyer) Brua. A Freeborn County resident all of his life, he went to Albert Lea Schools before enlisting in the Army. On Feb. 10, 1949, he was united in marriage to Theresa Cunningham in Albert Lea. Together they raised two children.

Howard was the owner and operator of Brua’s Auto Parts, which he purchased from his grandmother in the late 1960s. He was a member of the VFW, Knights of Columbus, Moose and React. He enjoyed playing horseshoes, pool, hunting and stock car racing. Although Howard was a stubborn man, he was very caring and loving. When he was still able to drive, he would often go out to the cemetery to place a flower on his wife and grandson’s graves. As many know, especially the staff of Good Samaritan, he loved his Coca-Cola and enjoyed going to the Moose.

Howard’s grandsons, Mitch and Travis, were a very important part of his life. He would take them to the Freeborn County Fair demo derby every year, and together they would junk cars late in to the night at his junkyard. Holidays with the boys were spent rolled in Afghans, watching television, coloring eggs and carving pumpkins. Howard also loved his visits with his great grandchild, Zaden, at Good Samaritan and St. Johns, eating ice cream and playing together. He was a wonderful dad, grandpa and father-in-law.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Theresa Brua; parents, Leonard and Minnie; grandson, Mitch Brua; brothers, Ole and Jerry Brua; sisters-in-law, Glenys Brua, and Clarine Larson; brothers-in-law George Murphy, Don Pederson and Bobby Joe Cunningham; and nephew, Paul Murphy.

Howard Brua

Howard is survived by his son, Michael Brua of Arizona and his children, Lucas (Devan and baby), Clint, Seth, Troy, and Amanda; son, Steve (Roxanne) Brua of Albert Lea; grandson, Travis Brua of Dodge Center; great-grandchild, Zaden Brua; brothers, Harvey (Donna) Brua of Albert Lea, Chauncy Brua of Owatonna, and Charlie (Shirley) Brua of Glenville; sister Francie (Ross) Peterson of Warren; sisters-in-law, Vivian Brua of Albert Lea, Margaret Murphy of Albert Lea, Sharon Brua, Rose Marie Pederson of Tomah, Wis., Ellen (Dan) Margetich of California, and Kathleen Chagnovich of California; brothers-in-law, Larry (Shirley) Cunningham of Oregon, Danny (Carol) Cunningham of Caroll, Iowa, and Martin (Patty) Cunningham of Mitchell, S.D.; nieces and nephews, and other loving relatives and friends.

Special thanks to Eunice and Bonnie for their love and care and to the staff members of Good Samaritan and Albert Lea Hospice.