Rochelle Lynn Bruns

Rochelle Lynn Bruns, the daughter of John and Beverly (Essman) Gerken was born March 6, 1969, at the Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital in Rock Rapids, Iowa, and died October 1, 2020, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa, at the age of 51 years, 6 months, and 25 days.

Rochelle was baptized and confirmed at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in George, Iowa. She attended the George Community Schools, graduating with the High School Class of 1987. Rochelle then studied at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, graduating with a Bachelors’ Degree in Elementary Education in 1991. While attending college, she was a member of the softball team.

Following graduation, she taught sixth grade at Bonesteel-Fairfax School in Bonesteel, South Dakota for two years. In 1993, she accepted a position in Elk Horn, Iowa, where she taught fourth grade and coached both volleyball and track.

On August 17, 1996, she was united in marriage to Matthew Bruns at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in George. They were blessed with two sons: Cole and Cade. Rochelle continued to teach at the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton School and also studied at Iowa State University, earning her Master’s Degree in School Administration in 2009. She then became the Elementary Principal at the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton School.

Rochelle was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimballton, Iowa. She was also a member of the Elk Horn Fire and Rescue for more than 20 years. Rochelle also worked part-time at the Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn. She enjoyed gardening and canning the produce. She enjoyed quilting, and each year she created a quilt with the fourth-grade students. Rochelle loved the northern Minnesota vacations with her family. She was a coach for both volleyball and track, but most of all she enjoyed watching her sons participate in their many activities.

Preceding Rochelle in death was her mother-in-law, Marilyn Bruns.

Survivors include her husband, Matt Bruns of Elk Horn, Iowa; her sons, Cole Bruns of Spirit Lake, Iowa, and Cade Bruns and significant other Jacey Anthofer of Ankeny, Iowa; her parents, John and wife Beverly Gerken of George, Iowa; her sister and brother, Roxanne and husband Todd Geerdes of Brandon, South Dakota, and B.J. and wife Sasha Gerken of George; her father-in-law, Raymond Bruns of Britt, Iowa; her brothers-in-law: Brian and wife Alice Bruns of Sioux City, Iowa; Dirk and wife Carol Bruns of Mason City, Iowa; Eric and wife Ellen Bruns of Britt; and Wade and wife Vari Bruns of Fruitland, Iowa; as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, aunts and uncles, and other relatives and close friends.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2020, at 1:00 P.M. at the Exira-EHK Spartan Football Field in Exira, Iowa with Pastor Keith Menter officiating. There will be an open visitation on Friday, October 9, 2020, from 8:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. with the family present from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa. A private family inurnment will be in the Oak Ridge Cemetery, Clay Township in rural Elk Horn. Honorary bearers will be Teri Amaral, Allison Buckholdt, Todd Hansen, Mike Petersen, Nate Potts, Andy Ring, Joel Schlueter, and Craig Smith. Everyone is invited to bring a lawn chair or blanket for the service or there will be seating in the stadium. Casual attire including purple, Spartan, or Spartan Strong is welcome. The family prefers gifts in memoriam be given to the Exira-Elk Horn Student Scholarship Fund. The Kessler Funeral Home in Exira is in charge of her arrangements.