Friedrich "Fred" F. Bruegger Sr.

Fred Bruegger Killed Sun. in Car-Truck Crash

Fred Bruegger Sr., 77, prominent Niobrara rancher, was killed at 10:50 a.m. Sunday when his small foreign made car and a two-ton truck collided at the Lost Springs-Highway 20 intersection. Funeral services will be held from the Peet Chapel in Lusk at 2:00 p.m. this Thursday.

Wyoming Highway Patrolman Morris Thomason of Douglas investigated the accident and said that Bruegger apparently failed to stop before entering Highway 20 and the eastbound truck driven by Kenneth R. Shepperson, 37, of Douglas, hit the small car. Bruegger was killed instantly. Mr. Shepperson was not injured. Considerable damage was done to the truck and the Bruegger car was completely demolished.

Mr. Bruegger was born August 18, 1889, to Gilgen and Margaret Bruegger in the mountain village of Frutigen, Kanton Bern, Switzerland. Following the death of his mother in 1910 he came to America and worked a year in Illinois before coming to Wyoming and homesteading in the Node area. During those early years he worked for Jacob Mill and Tom Bell. Later he bought the Fred von Kaenel ranch. Mr. Von Kaenel was the uncle of his future wife.

In 1925 he returned to Switzerland and on December 12, 1925, he and Martha Stoller were married.

They were the parents of five daughters, all born at his Node ranch, and three sons, all born in Lusk.

His ranching holdings in this area are extensive. For the past several years he has resided at the Lost springs ranch.

Mr. Bruegger traveled extensively and on many occasions returned to Switzerland for visits. Earlier this year he completed a trip around the world.

He is survived by his wife, Martha; three sons, John of Van Tassell; Fred Jr. of Keeline; Edward of Lusk; and five daughters, Mrs. Melvin (Madeline) Grote of Harrison; Mrs. Russell (Margaret) Fernau of Woodburn, Ore.; Mrs. John (Annie) Welch of Olympia, Wash.; Mrs. Robert (Mary Rose) Dorn of Wheatland; Mrs. Kenneth (Winnifred) Schipporeit of Woodburn, Ord.; and 20 grandchildren.

The Lusk Herald
October 27, 1966
Funeral for Fred Bruegger Held Thursday

Funeral services were held last Thursday at the Peet Chapel in Lusk for Fred Bruegger, Sr., 77, at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Fred Schuett of the Lutheran Church officiating. Burial was in the Lusk cemetery.

Mrs. Sigmund Hahn, organist accompanied L.E. Johnsonbaugh, Harry Lyon, Dan Christian and Robert Reichert as they sang "Rock of Ages" and "Abide with Me".

Casket bearers were Charles Lund, Ed Speerly, Paul Pfister, Charles Bruch, Ray Freeman, Pete Germann, Henry Amend, and Gene Harris.

Honorary bearers were Don Taylor, Joe Pfister, Roy ZumBrunnen, William Speerly, Carl Bruch, Levern James, and Menno Kaan.

He is survived by his widow Martha, three sons, John of Van Tassell, Fred, Jr. of Keeline, Edward of Lusk; and five daughters, Mrs. Melvin (Madeline) Grote of Harrison, Mrs. Russell (Margaret) Fernau of Woodburn, Ore.; Mrs. John (Annie) Welch of Olympia, Wash.; Mrs. Robert (Mary Rose) Dorn of Wheatland; Mrs. Kenneth (Winnifred) Shipporeit of Woodburn, Ore.; and 20 grandchildren.

Mr. Bruegger was killed October 16 at the Lost Springs-Highway 20 intersection, when his car and a truck collided.

Note: The Lusk Cemetery records previously had one grave listed under the name Fred Bruegger, in grave A-6-2-3. They had another under the name Freidrich Bruegger in grave R-12-2-2. After some research, it has been determined that Friedrich Bruegger was moved from the A section to the R section. There are tombstones at both grave sites.

Images & Attachments

Related/Linked Records