Myles George Bruch

Myles George Bruch

September 17, 1929 – June 9, 2025

Myles George Bruch passed peacefully into the arms of his Heavenly Father on June 9th, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He faced a 15-year battle with Parkinson’s disease with courage, determination, and grit – walking daily on his treadmill until aspiration pneumonia, a complication of the disease, became his final challenge.

Myles was born on September 17th, 1929, on a farm west of Butternut Wisconsin – the 6th of seven children of George and Eleanor (Dougherty) Bruch. Raised during the depression, he often said, “We never had any money – almost everyone was poor – but we had everything.” He grew up living off the land and learned the values of hard work, faith, and family. After graduating from 8th grade, he worked as a lumberjack and truck driver, always seeking ways to help support his family. At age 18 he met the love of his life, Carol Jean Wartgow. After serving in the US Army as part of the post WWII US Occupation Forces in Germany, they married on June 6th, 1953, recently celebrating 72 years of marriage.

Together they raised seven children in the Milwaukee area, where Myles ran a successful construction and excavating business – Bruch Brothers Contractors – with his brother, George and later his sons. Known for his work ethic, he continued to help his sons with their businesses well into his 80s.

Outside of work, Myles loved to garden and always had a large garden filled with a variety of vegetables and endless rows of potatoes! As a young boy Myles won many awards at various fairs held in the Butternut area for his potatoes. He found great joy in sharing his harvest with family and friends, especially his potatoes and canned sauerkraut. He continued with his passion for gardening up until last year when his Parkinsons made it too difficult. He was also an avid deer hunter and the beloved camp cook at the family’s

Butternut hunting cabin. His traditions – campfires, polka music, and hearty meals – will echo for generations.

Myles was a faithful Catholic, a Scoutmaster, and a devoted family man who never worked on Sundays, reserving them for church and family time. He and Carol loved to polka dance also enjoyed travels here and abroad, and especially trips to Silz, Germany where the Bruch relatives are from – another immense joy in his life!

Myles was a loving and amazing husband, dad, grandpa, great grandpa and friend to all. He leaves behind an incredible legacy of love, faith, and hard work. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Eleanor Bruch, brothers Ken (Mony), Bob, and George, and sisters Myrtle and Marion, and his son-in-law John Kristbaum. He is survived by his wife Carol, and children Ron (Kathy), Doug (Linda), Steve (Christy), Colleen Kristbaum, Bill (Christine), Mary Jean (Mike) LaLoggia, and Patrick (Chrissy), 17 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren (and one on the way), and sister Coreen Pritzl. The family is sincerely grateful to the caregivers and therapists who helped Myles at home, Deacon Jeff from St. Dominic’s, and the nurses and doctors at Froedtert Hospital, Menomonee Falls.

Visitation will be from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, with Vigil at 6:30 PM, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at Krause Funeral Home, 21600 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin. On Thursday, June 19, 2025, Visitation will also be held 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM with Mass following at St. Dominic Catholic Church, 18255 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to veterans Honor Flight or Saint Dominic Parish.