Wilfried Heinrich Bruns, age 85, died at Silverton Hospital on November 30, 2009.

He was Born in Oldenburg, Germany to Gustav and Anna Bruns. He was drafted into the German Army in 1941. He was a Paratrooper until he was captured and held as Prisoner of War of the Americans in France and England until 1947. Mr. Bruns attended Theological Seminary in Switzerland from 1951 – 1953. He followed his Bride to be, Lydia Leitner to America where they married on Nov. 21, 1953.

He worked in Detroit for the Goodyear Tire Factory and also sold Fuller Brush. His ministry as a Pastor started in Nebraska in 1960, and spanned the states of Montana, South Dakota, and Wisconsin for the North American Baptist Conference. In 1968 he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Nebraska with 2 Master's Degrees in Education and Psychology. Wilfried and Lydia became Naturalized U.S. Citizens in 1968. In 1974, he moved his family to Oregon where he was a Beloved Middle School Teacher in Estacada Middle and Eagle Creek Middle Schools until 1994.

"Ranger Bill" was the Scout Master at the Butte Creek Boy Scout Ranch, for the Columbia Pacific Council and was able to influence hundreds of Scouts. He lead a 50 horse / 120 mile / 7 day trail ride each year from the Scout Ranch to Camp Baldwin, near Dufur, Oregon.

In 1990, he and his wife became Missionaries to the Overseas Christian Servicemen where he taught school for the children of American Soldiers in Mannheim, Germany, until 1992.

Wilfried had a profound and deeply rooted faith in God, which he left as his most precious legacy to his children. He is preceded in death by his wife, Lydia in 2002, daughter, Anna, in 1971, sons, Timothy and Mark in 1980 and son, Daniel in 2006. He is survived by his other children, Gerhardt (Barb) from Castle Rock, CO, Elisabeth Rodman, Salem, Esther Goldman, Salem, Peter Bruns (Donnie) from Silverton and Rebekah Steffen (David) from Salem. "Opa" Bruns had 11 grandchildren and 7 greatgrandchildren. His brother Harro Bruns and wife, Almuth and nephews Michael Bruns (Laelia) and Thomas Bruns and Cousin Guenther Bruns (Hedai) all reside in Germany.

Funeral Services will be held at Emmaunuel Bible Church in Pratum, Oregon on Saturday, December 5th. Viewing at 2:00 pm and services at 3:00 pm with light dinner to follow.

Memorial Contributions will be donated to the DAN BRUNS SCHOLARSHIP FUND.- Multnomah School of the Bible, Portland Oregon. Mailing address : P.O. Box 701, Silverton, OR 97381