Iowa City, Iowa Eugene “Gene” Henry Brugman, 91, passed away in Minnesota, while on vacation with his family on June 10, 2011. Friends may call at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty from 5 to 7:30 P.M. Tuesday, a Rosary will be recited at 7:30. Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice or to the Mercy Hospital Foundation (Iowa City). Funeral mass will be held 10:30 A.M. June 15, 2011 at St. Mary’s Church in Nichols with Rev. Walter Helms officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Nichols. Iowa. Gene was born November 13, 1919 , the son of Henry and Mary Cross Brugman. He was a 1937 graduate of West Liberty High School. After high school, he attended the Fredric Mizen Commercial art School in Chicago for four years. Following art school, Gene decided to spend his life as a farmer on the family farm that his grandfather purchased in 1885. Gene celebrated 61 years of marriage to Dorothy Kessler. They were married on August 29, 1949 at St. Mary’s Church in Iowa City. They lived on the family farm until they retired and moved to Iowa City in 1992. The last three years, Gene and Dorothy made their home at Windmill Pointe Estates in Coralville. For fifty years Gene and Dorothy were members of The Five Hundred club, a group that met regularly to play the card game Five Hundred. In Iowa City, Gene and Dorothy enjoyed attending the University of Iowa woman’s athletic events. During his lifetime Gene served on various committees including: The Farmers Home Administration, Muscatine County Health Administration, and the Nichols School Board for two terms. He also served on the Church Council and various committees at St. Mary’s Church in Nichols. Although he didn’t go into commercial art, Gene was able to apply those skills the rest of his life. He was a skilled wood carver and wood worker and enjoyed making toys for his grandchildren. Gene is survived by his wife Dorothy Brugman of Coralville, Iowa; Daughter Barbara Swenson and her husband Alan of Manassas, Virginia; Daughter Bonnie Steinhoff, and her husband Stephen of Alameda, California and Son Robert Brugman of North Liberty, Iowa. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Stacen and Sara Steinhoff, Brian and Eric Swenson and niece and nephew Marilyn and Gerald Arvidson of Clinton, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Loretta Arvidson, and his brother-in-law Arthur Arvidson.