James A. "Jim" Brugh passed away at the Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Mary's Campus in Rochester Minnesota on February 17, 2022. This followed a nearly 1-year battle with lung disease.
On September 24, 1948, James Arthur Brugh was born, the second son of Joseph Leonard and Mildred Wentzel Brugh. Growing up he shared his childhood with his older brother Randy. Jim graduated from Rochester High School in 1966. After a brief stint at Indiana State University, Jim transferred to Manchester College to continue his studies in German where he graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education. During his Manchester years he studied in Germany at Philipps-Universität Marburg, perfecting his linguistic skills. Later, Mr. Brugh earned his Master of Arts from Indiana University.
On July 1, 1972, Jim married Ronda Rae Hood at the St. Joseph Catholic Church. They shared nearly 50 years of life's adventures. From their union came four sons and a daughter, with two more generations that followed.
With great dedication and devotion to his students Mr. Brugh, a Master Instructor, taught German for more than four decades at Culver Military Academy. He held the Eugene C. Eppley Chair of Foreign Language from 1998 to 2014. Voted on by the student body, Jim received the Kaser Award in 1995 for recognition of his scholarly interests, enthusiastic teaching, sympathetic understanding, and wise council. He was an esteemed role model, admired by his students and respected by his peers. Mr. Brugh took great satisfaction in helping to provide the skill sets necessary to empower the success and confidence of his students.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he was the head coach of the boys’ varsity soccer team from 1984 to 2014, making him the longest-serving head soccer coach in the state of Indiana. He was an assistant coach for 10 years prior. He guided the Eagles to the State Finals on multiple occasions, inspiring his team for 40 years.
As a musician, Jim played his trombone for student musicals and on stage for various musical ensembles at the Eppley Auditorium at Culver Military Academy. He also played big band and jazz at other non-school venues. As a self-taught harmonica player, he would often play songs in German class for his students to sing along.
In 1982 a family tradition was established, by Jim and Ronda and their children staying at a lake resort near Hackensack, Minnesota. They later bought their own cabin in that area. Many memories were made at their cabin, where the family enjoyed fishing, exploring and embracing nature together. Jim was a skilled handyman, adept at fixing anything around their country home. He passed those skills on to his children. He enjoyed woodworking very much, culminating in more recent years with turning bowls from logs on his lathe for friends and family.
As the patriarch of his family Jim was especially proud to see the arrival of each of the grands and great-grands. The Brughs enjoyed taking to the roads in their motorhome to travel to Arizona, California, and Texas to visit other members of their family.
Left to cherish Jim's memory are his wife, Ronda of Rochester; a daughter, Audra Lomba and husband Ray Anthony of Valley Center, CA; two sons: Jason Brugh and wife Nicole of Flagstaff, AZ, and Jim Brugh and wife Melissa of Granger; 10 grandchildren: Addison Brugh, Harper Brugh, Tenaya Brugh, Zander Brugh, Jackson Hayes, Ashlyn Hayes, Sierra Bryant and husband Justin, Lily Lomba, Raena Lomba and Myla Lomba. 2 great-grandsons: Ira and Odin and a brother Joseph Randall "Randy" Brugh of Rochester.
Jim was preceded by two sons, Joel A. Brugh on July 28, 2009 and Joshua A. Brugh on April 3, 2017; in-laws, Doris Hood on December 24, 2018, Kenneth Hood on October 2, 2004; parents: Mildred Brugh on November 5, 2012 and Joseph Brugh on October 15, 2014.
A celebration of the life of Mr. Jim Brugh will be at the Culver Academies chapel Friday afternoon, March 4, 2022.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 pm. A service will follow at 4 pm.
Jim will be laid to eternal rest on the family plot at the Rochester IOOF Cemetery.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to Mayo Pulmonary Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
Online expressions of sympathy may be made to his family at www.goodfamilyfh.com
