Thomas David Brueggen

Thomas David Brueggen, 74, passed away at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Tomah on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. He was born on the 24th of February 1949 to parents Ardell (Becker) and George Brueggen of La Crosse, WI. He grew up with his sister Barb Hertlitzka and brothers Don Brueggen and Ron Brueggen. He was a mama's boy through and through! He graduated from Aquinas High School in 1967 and promptly began his career “working on the train” with the Milwaukee Road. A proud Marine for life, he enlisted in the military and deployed to Vietnam, a tour which earned him a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in action, with honorable discharge to follow while he was hospitalized in Guam. This time spent in the military would shape him forever. Upon returning from his tour in Vietnam, he went back to work as a conductor for the Burlington Northern Railroad where he spent the next 25 years of his working life before retiring due to injuries. He was married to Cindy (Koeller) for 20 years and had two beautiful children who were the apples of their dad’s eye. Tom enjoyed spending time with his family more than anything in the world. When he wasn’t on the baseball field with David or the stables with Kristi, he could be found hunting on his land, fishing at the cottage, boating on the Mississippi or chopping wood. He sure loved a good Gunsmoke marathon! He is preceded in death by parents George and Ardell and sister Barb Herlitzka, and leaves behind his son David Brueggen of La Crosse, WI and daughter Kristi (Matt) Larson of Madison, WI, as well as brothers Don (Linda) Brueggen, Ron (Rita) Brueggen; brother-in-law, Ken Herlitzka and numerous nephews/nieces. The family would like to thank the staff at the Tomah VA Hospital for their gracious and steadfast care of Tom over the past two years, as well as the La Crosse VA for the lifetime of assistance. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Disabled American Veterans. "Semper Fi Dad"