Leonard Brugger, of Riverside, California passed away November 27, 2022. His Celebration of Life was December 17, 2022 and his burial is January 26, 2023. Leonard was born July 8, 1937 to Merlin and Sarah (Smith) Brugger in Tulare South Dakota. He was the fourth of ten children.
Leonard was a man of many talents, full of wisdom, hard working and dedicated to his family. He joined the military at the age of 21. He served in the Army National Guard from 1958-1961. He was a cook during the Vietnam War. In 1963 he re-enlisted in the Army and served until 1966. He was a paratrooper and received his Expert Badge (M16), Vietnam Service Metal and Parachute Badge.1966 he joined the Air National Guard as a reserve and retired in 1978. When the Air Force Base closed down he started his final career as an appliance installer until he officially retired in 2018. There was no task too impossible for him and he could fix anything and everything.
In 1966 he traveled from South Dakota to California to follow his dreams and start a new life. Here he met Louise, his wife of 55 years. He was a family man. Whatever he thought his kids would love he was willing to do: camping, wheeling, you name it. He was probably the "biggest kid" of the bunch, always up for a good time and ready to go on to the next adventure. He loved it all. He loved to tell jokes and he would laugh so hard telling the joke he would be in tears. His only regret was as he aged he couldn't get his body to cooperate with his dreams
of doing what his mind still desired to explore.
He is survived by his wife Louise; daughter, Lisa Clark; sons Lemont (Jane) Brugger, Loren Brugger and Patrick Ahl; grandchildren Bogie, Samuel, Wyatt, Caden, Boston, Weston and Callie Mae; siblings Elaine Binger, Robert (Marlene) Brugger, Jerry (Kathy) Brugger and Vicky (Delton) Tipton, sister-in-law Kathy Brugger, brother-in-law Jerry Otten and many loved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, grandson Riley, brothers Lemont (Rita),
John; sisters Eloise (Kenny) Schultz, Helen Otten, Caralin Williams.
