Laurence Bruggers

Dr. Laurence 'Larry' Bruggers, 88,Dr. Laurence Bruggers of Sun City West, Ariz., and Saginaw, Mich., passed away on Aug. 20 after a brief illness. He was 88. Services were Tuesday, Aug. 26, at Desert Palms Presbyterian Church. Larry lived his life well, and he lived it fully. Along his journey that began in Holland, Mich., on July 9, 1920, he touched the lives of countless others through his work as a physician, his role as a husband and father, and the pursuit of his many interests. He was a photographer, gardener, and wood-worker. On a Michigan woodlot he owned with his first wife of more than 50 years, the late Edith Lois Bruggers, he grew Christmas trees, created two ponds, made maple syrup, kept bees, planted thousands of trees, hunted and fished, and nurtured the young lives of four children in a way that passed along a parent's love of the outdoors. He was as at home hauling a tank full of maple sap through the snow behind a Caterpillar tractor as he was delivering babies and performing operations in a hospital. The son of the Rev. John H. Bruggers and Cornelia Muilenburg, Larry graduated from Coopersville High School in Coopersville, Mich., in 1937. He earned a BA degree from Hope College in Holland, Mich., in 1941 and a medical degree from the University of Michigan in 1944. Larry was a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, 1946-1948, serving in the Philippines. When he returned, he undertook a medical residence in obstetrics and gynecology at Saginaw General Hospital, Saginaw Mich., 1948-1951, and then went into private practice with Valley OB-GYN until 1986. His hands escorted into the world thousands of babies, and he was an accomplished and pioneering surgeon. Among his memberships: American Medical Association, Fellow in College of Surgeons; American Board of OB-GYN, Fellow of College of OB-GYN; Saginaw County Medical Society, past president; Staffs of Saginaw General Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital, where he was once chief of staff. In 1968, he was a member of a group of physicians who helped to start the Saginaw Cooperative Hospitals teaching program with Michigan State University, and upon his retirement he was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus. Larry was a member and elder of Warren Avenue Presbyterian Church, Saginaw, and Desert Palms Presbyterian Church in Sun City West, Ariz. In his retirement, he studied the geology of Arizona, taught others woodworking skills and volunteered in the community. In 1998, after finding love for the second time, he married Dorothy Westermann of Sun City West., and the two of them enjoyed an active life together, including weekly dancing, travel, kite flying and shared crossword puzzles. He leaves behind his wife, Dorothy; a daughter, Dr. Carol Sue Bruggers of Salt Lake City; a son Dr. Richard Bruggers (and Jackie Bruggers) of Fort Collins, Colo.; a son, Donald Bruggers (and Janice Cecere) of Danville, Calif.; a son, James Bruggers, of Louisville, Ky.; a step-daughter, Karin Westermann (and Jamie Gormley), of Morristown, New Jersey; a step son, Jim Westermann (and Lorraine Westermann) of Goodyear, Ariz. a brother, Dr. Howard Bruggers (and Henrietta Bruggers); a sister-in-law, Phyllis Bruggers; nine grandchildren (Sean, Ryan, Grace, Claire, Xanadu, Sloane, Garrett, Dustin and Shannon); three great grand children (Zavier, Dante and Gavin); and numerous nephews and nieces. Contributions in Larry's memory can be made to St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, 2831 North 31st St, Phoenix, AZ, 85009.