Paul Brugger

Paul H. Brugger, 93, of Jackson passed away Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Villas of Jackson, which had been his home for the last seven months.

He was born Nov. 22, 1924, in Jackson, son of Charles and Helen Kirn Brugger. He and Melba Lillian Nagel were married June 28, 1953. She passed away Sept. 7, 2011.

Paul attended school in Jackson. During his senior year of high school, he started a business hauling lime until he was drafted May 19, 1943. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the military police in England for 19 months and was then transferred to the infantry, where he served in France, Austria and Germany. After an honorable discharge March 28, 1946, he resumed his lime business and worked with his brother, Albert, doing excavating. He worked 10 years at the Jackson Hosiery Mill, until its closing, and then worked on garage doors, did carpentry work and was a welder. He was a mechanic for 20 years on the fleet of trucks for Sunny Hill Dairy, retiring from Prairie Farms in 1984.

Paul was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson and the Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 in Jackson. He and Melba enjoyed collecting Fenton glassware and traveling to various parts of the United States and Canada. He was ingenious at "fixing things," and enjoyed work, watching Cardinals baseball and discussing politics. He often reminisced about his military career during World War II and adventures flying his airplane. Paul was a very kind, gentle, witty man, a generous steward and a good and faithful servant. He made a positive impact on this world and was very well loved.

Loving survivors include a brother, Albert Brugger of Cape Girardeau; five nephews, Don (Sandy) Brown of Raymore, Missouri, Steve Brown of Terre Haute, Indiana, Mark (Terri) Nagel of Jackson, Marty (Beth Ann) Nagel of Rogers, Arkansas, and Charles (Tina) Brugger of Jackson; a niece, Michelle (Danny) Putz of Jackson; a dear friend, Rada Lou Kamp of Jackson; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to his wife of 58 years, Melba Brugger, he was preceded in death by a brother, Edward Brugger; a sister, Julietta Brugger; and a newborn brother.

Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. John Harth officiating. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson, with graveside military honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.