Winter Haven, Florida - Wilfred August Bruns, 88, of Winter Haven passed away peacefully at Good Shepherd Hospice of Auburndale, Florida on Thursday, December 18, 2008.

He was born in 1920 in St. Henry, Ohio to the late Clara and William Bruns. Wilfred spent his early years in Burkettsville, Ohio, and moved to Dayton, Ohio then enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served in the South Pacific in World War II as a sonar Operator second class on board USS SC 742 and on board destroyer escort USS Bunch.

He wed Alvira M. Wenning of Philothea, Ohio 64 years ago on December 20, 1944. After returning from service in the U.S. Navy, he was employed by the Minister Machine Company as a machinist until 1957, at which time he owned and operated Bruns Nite Club in Burkettsville, Ohio. He will also be remembered for his 24-year career as a Snap-On Tools franchise dealer and was not only well loved by his customers, but also exceeded many sales goals to become "Salesman Of The Year" numerous times.

He was a man of both seriousness of purpose and a deep religious conviction; an active Member of Saint Ann's Catholic Church of Haines City, Florida. He was also a member of the American Legion, VFW, Destroyer Escort Association as well as a former member of the Moose Lodge, Knights of Columbus and Elks Club. As a loving husband and father he and his loving wife, Vera, raised four wonderful children.

He is survived by his wife, Alvira (Vera) and four children, Kenneth E. Bruns (Virginia), Cleveland, Ohio; Rebecca L. Niemeyer (David, deceased), Upland, California; Bonita K. Neff (Terence), Mansfield, Ohio and Gary J. Bruns, Shreveport, Ohio. Also surviving are 9 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.   Surviving siblings are: Owen Bruns (Elizabeth), Brookville, Ohio; Eugene Bruns (Eileen), Burkettsville, Ohio; Eileen Braun (Stanley), Kettering, Ohio; sister-in-law, Agnes Bruns (Stanley, deceased), Maria Stein, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by siblings: Bernard Bruns (Armela), Saint Henry, Ohio; Loneta Hickey (Albert), Dayton, Ohio; Stanley Bruns (Agnes), Burkettsville, Ohio; Patricia Niekamp (Roger), Saint Henry, Ohio.

The funeral service with military honors, will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Ann's Catholic Church in Haines City, Florida. Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Friday, Oak Ridge Funeral Care, Haines City.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to your local hospice facility or masses be said in the memory of Wilfred A. Bruns.