Lauretta M. Brus

1932 - 2025

Lauretta M. Brus, 92, of Cascade, Iowa, passed away Friday, February 21, 2025, at Stonehill Care Center in Dubuque, Iowa.

Visitation for Lauretta will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, February 28, 2025, at the Reiff Funeral Home in Cascade, Iowa, where a Memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Mark Osterhaus presiding.  Private burial will be held in Calvary Cemetery in Cascade.

Lauretta was born on December 13, 1932, in Rock Island, Illinois, daughter of Charles Edward and Marie Elizabeth (Nelson) Royal. She received her education from the Rock Island area schools and graduated from Rock Island “Rocky High” in 1950. On September 7, 1957, she was united in marriage to James L. Brus at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Rock Island, IL.  He preceded her in death on September 19, 2012. 

She was a stenographer, and later a purchasing agent secretary at Rock Island Bridge and Iron Works.  Seven years later, she became a purchasing agent secretary for Iowa and Illinois Gas and Electric of Davenport.  She also made toys for a few years at ERTL, all while being a wonderful mother and supporting farm wife.

When the Brus family moved to the Cascade area in 1965, she met the neighborhood farm ladies by joining their monthly Tripoli card club, who became lifelong friends.  She was skilled at many crafts and explored many types of painting, ranging from watercolors to oils.  She bowled on Tuesday afternoon ladies league for many years.  Later in life, she joined the Shades of Wild Roses art group and frequently taught projects in the monthly meeting.  In her later years, when she wasn’t spending time with family or friends, you could find her in her rocking chair, reading one of her many books.

She was a member of the St. Matthias Parish in Cascade.

Lauretta is survived by her four children, Judith Ann Brus of Phoenix, AZ, William “Bill” Brus (Joani Bergfeld) of Zwingle, Alan James (Ann) Brus of Dubuque, and Beth Ann Brus (Tony Kerper) of Cascade; four grandchildren, Shelby (Scott) Schaefer, Samantha (Nathan) Pregler, Zoey Thole and Dallas (Jeff Jr.) Harry; great grandchildren, Lillian, Izzabella, and Jeff Harry the 3rd; a brother, Wilfrid (Cleo) Royal of Rock Island, IL; two sisters-in-law, Jane Cochran of Davenport, IA, and Ruth Ann Powers of Burlington, IA.

She is also preceded in death by her parents; father and mother-in-law, Anthony and Lillian (Daurer) Brus; a sister-in-law, Darlene (Warren) Martz; and two brothers-in-law, Leo Brus and Edmund Powers.

A Video Tribute may be viewed and online condolences may be sent to the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com