John Calvin Bruins

John Calvin (Cal) Bruins in Mount Pleasant, SC went into the arms of Jesus May 11, 2015. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Bonnie (Beyers), his high school sweetheart, three children, seven grand children and one great grandson: Christi Kern, the oldest daughter and her husband, Michael Kern, and their three children Paul Calvin, Andrew Harrison, Maribeth Joy of Mount Pleasant, SC. Katie Winkler, and her husband, Todd Winkler, and their three daughters, Karissa Joy, Jenna Mae and Olivia Jean of Grand Haven, MI. Son, Charles Scott Bruins of Scottsdale, AZ, and granddaughter Brianna Morgan her husband, Nathan Askins and their son Ezra Pierce of Mesa, AZ. He is also survived by his sisters, Betty Daane (Larry), Gail Wetzel (Dick) and Helene Daane (Ron) and by his brother Bill Bruins (Mary), all from the Waupun WI area. He was a proud uncle of twelve nieces and ten nephews as well as twenty-one grandnieces and thirty-six grandnephews as well as one great grandnephew and one great grandniece. His family values and wonderful memories are cherished by all of his family and friends.

Cal graduated from Hope College in 1961. Shortly afterward he began his career as an educator in Hamilton, MI, then West Bend, WI where he was principal of East High School. He moved to the Scottsdale School District in AZ where most of his time was spent as principal of Arcadia High School. Cal earned his doctorate in education from Arizona State University in 1985 where his dissertation, emphasized the essential role of extracurricular activities in the high school experience.

Because of his love of the church and family, Cal devoted much of his free time to the Reformed Church of America in Scottsdale, AZ as an adult education teacher and as a deacon. After retirement from the school system, his love for his family and dairy farming took him back to his Wisconsin roots to start Homeland Dairy with his brother and nephews in Alto, WI. We are thankful for the legacy of Christian faith from this wise and kindhearted man.

A memorial service will be held at Alto Reformed Church in Alto, WI at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2015. The family will gather to celebrate Cal's giving nature, his talented contributions and loving memories that we all treasure.

The family wishes to thank all of the compassionate caregivers that helped in Cal's final years living with Lewy Body Dementia. Any memorial contributions will be given to the Lewy Body Dementia Association to promote awareness, research and the care of LBD patients and their families.