CLEAR LAKE — Armin Alfon Bruegger, 83, of Clear Lake, passed away Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, September 10, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1001 9th Avenue South in Clear Lake. Visitation will begin one hour before the Mass at the church, with a luncheon to follow.
Memorials are preferred to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
Armin was born June 27, 1943, in Mankato, Minnesota, the son of Armin Frederick Bruegger and Gladys Marion (Tolzmann) Bruegger.
He grew up in Minnesota Lake and attended school in Faribault for the blind before returning to Minnesota Lake for his junior and senior years of high school. He graduated from Minnesota Lake High School.
Living with blindness did not keep Armin from building a productive life centered on helping others. Family remembered him as a kind-hearted man who would find a way to lend a hand whenever someone needed assistance.
Armin built a career in technology, working for Hennepin County in Minnesota as a computer programmer. His talents with computers also allowed him to help others overcome some of the same challenges he had experienced himself.
He worked for State Services for the Blind, where he taught computer programs and technology skills to people who were legally blind.
On June 19, 1997, Armin married Maxine Koetter in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. Maxine became the love of his life, and the couple shared nearly three decades together.
Armin and Maxine especially enjoyed traveling. They took numerous bus trips together and found happiness simply seeing new places and experiencing those adventures side by side.
Service to his community was another important part of Armin’s life.
He was active in the Knights of Columbus and belonged to Lions Clubs both in Columbia Heights and after making his home in Clear Lake.
His commitment to helping others did not go unnoticed. In 2013, Armin was honored as Humanitarian of the Year and was selected to ride as grand marshal in the community parade that year.
Music was also a longtime source of enjoyment for Armin, particularly the songs of the 1950s and 1960s.
Armin is survived by his wife, Maxine; his daughter, Lynn Breymer and her husband, Ilya Taytslin, of Gloucester, Massachusetts; his son, Trent Bruegger of Blue Earth, Minnesota; his brother, Bob (Sandy) Bruegger; sisters LeAnna Nelson, LaDonna (Diek) Elliott, Luch Groen and Marcia Hull; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Armin and Gladys Bruegger, and brothers-in-law Russ Groen and Jim Nelson.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Armin was previously held September 1 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, followed by burial at Sunset Cemetery in St. Anthony.
For his family, friends and the communities he served, Armin leaves behind the example of a man who refused to allow obstacles to define what he could accomplish. Through his work with people who were blind, his involvement with service organizations and his simple willingness to help someone in need, Armin spent much of his life making things a little easier for others.
Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel in Clear Lake is caring for Armin and his family. To view the funeral home’s complete tribute and service information, please click here.
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