LEO ALBERT BRUEGGEMAN

Leo Albert Brueggeman, 58, of Big Lake, died July 31, 2004, at Valley Hospital, of natural causes. A visitation and vigil service was held at 7 p.m. Friday at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Big Lake. A funeral Mass was held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wasilla. A celebration of life was held at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Brueggeman home.

He was born in Everett, Wash., on Feb. 15, 1946, and raised in Poison, Mont. In 1963, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, served five years as an aviation machinist mate and jet load master and was honorably discharged.

After the military, he completed his higher education in heavy-equipment operations and road construction, graduating at the top of his field. He moved to Alaska in 1967. He married Coni McManus in the fall of 1968. From 1968 to 1994, he worked for various oil companies and traveled extensively in the Alaska Bush communities, drilling wells and installing water systems. From 1994 until his death, he pursued his calling as a spiritual leader.

His family said, "He devoted his life to the pursuit of freedom for all men and their families. He has earned the respect of many through his never-yielding faith, truth, wisdom and respect for others, always being available to give of himself anytime he was needed. His entire life was dedicated to the freedom he now has. He will live on in all of us. "

Mr. Brueggeman is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Coni; sons, Michael and his wife, Eve, Karl, Erich and Aaron and his wife, Jennifer; daughters, Crystal and Emily and her husband, Heath; grandchildren, Destiny, Troy, Kade, Christina, Kolten, Christopher, Issac, Winter, Cassandra and Erich; siblings, Dan, Michael, Anna, Paul, Melanie, Margaret, Donna, Duane and his father, Art Brueggeman. Mr. Brueggeman's final resting place will be Poison, Mont. Memorial donations may be mailed to First Vineyard, c/o Coni Brueggeman, P.O. Box 118, Bountiful, Utah, 84011.