Ronald Lee Brugman, 84, passed away at daybreak on August 21, 2024 at Banner Baywood Medical Center. Ron was known for his commitment to his faith, his family, his dedication to prison education, and especially his sense of humor. Born in Herdland Township in Webb, Iowa, Ron was the seventh son and ninth of ten children of Karl J. Brugman and Eva F. Brugman (née Olhausen). He was raised in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, where he worked on the family farm. He was known by family as “Ronnie” and friends as “Red”. Ron attended Morningside College (now Morningside University) on a football scholarship. After graduating with a degree in education, he worked as a football coach for several years before accepting a teaching position with the Arizona Department of Corrections in 1972. He met Sheila Ann Jackson in February, 1974, they were engaged in May of that year, and married on October 4th, 1974, a devoted couple for over 50 years. Over his 43 years of service as an educator for the State of Arizona, Ron received his public management certification, eventually becoming Education Administrator and later served as an Education Program Supervisor, before retiring in 2015 to a cheering ovation of staff, management, and inmates. Ron approached life with compassion and humor. He was always supportive of his family and those who knew him, was always willing to help people who needed it, and always had a joke on hand to brighten people’s days. He was an active member and deacon at his church and a member of Gideons International, for whom he distributed New Testament Bibles for many years.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents Karl and Eva Brugman, his brothers, Darrel, Wayne, Jim, Karl Jr., Keith, and Terry Brugman, sister Donna Scheiber, and daughter Heather Ann Brugman. He is survived by his wife Sheila Ann Brugman, his son Benjamin Lee Brugman and son-in-law William David Brunnemeyer IV, his son Daniel DeWayne Brugman, his sisters Patricia Williams and Connie Scogland, and his many nieces, nephews, and their families.
Services will be held August 29th at 11 a.m. at First Southern Baptist Church of Mesa (Heart of Mesa), followed by a reception. Flowers are welcome, and donations to Gideons International or charities supporting education are also welcome in lieu of flowers.
I have been married to Ronnie’s niece Becky for 44 years. My enduring memory of Ronnie is his smile. He was always smiling. Of course, that’s because he was always telling jokes. At family gatherings, he was kind, considerate and welcomed everybody, including those of us who just married in. I know his siblings loved having him around. Given his open and easygoing nature, I was stunned when I first learned he worked as a teacher in the prison system. But then it dawned on me that his ability to relate to everybody helped him connect even with hardened prisoners. He clearly understood that while they may have committed crimes, they were still God’s children, and he was there to help. So I wasn’t surprised when I heard that the prisoners gave him an ovation as he retired. He will be missed.
I have been married to Ronnie’s niece Becky for 44 years. My enduring memory of Ronnie is his smile. He was always smiling. Of course, that’s because he was always telling jokes. At family gatherings, he was kind, considerate and welcomed everybody, including those of us who just married in. I know his siblings loved having him around. Given his open and easygoing nature, I was stunned when I first learned he worked as a teacher in the prison system. But then it dawned on me that his ability to relate to everybody helped him connect even with hardened prisoners. He clearly understood that while they may have committed crimes, they were still God’s children, and he was there to help. So I wasn’t surprised when I heard that the prisoners gave him an ovation as he retired. He will be missed.