Joseph Bernard Bruening

 Joseph Bernard Bruening, age 63 of St. Helena, Nebraska, died on Sunday, November 21, 2021 at the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, South Dakota. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am on Friday, November 26, 2021 at Holy Family (Immaculate Conception) Catholic Church in St. Helena with Rev Jim Keiter officiating. Burial will be at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in St. Helena. Visitation will be on Friday morning from 9:00 a.m. until service time. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington. Pallbearers will be Ken Bruening, Michael Bruening, Paul Wintz, Keith Wintz, Steve Wintz, Andy Miner, Joe Miner, and Darin Cantrell. Joe was born on July 8, 1958 in Yankton to Bernard Arnold and Geraldine Marie (Maly) Bruening. He attended East Catholic Elementary School in St. Helena and graduated from Cedar Catholic High School in Hartington, Nebraska in 1977. After graduation he continued assisted his father milking cows and operating the family farm. He married Juanita Cain on June 27, 1992 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Yankton. In 2001 he sold his dairy herd and concentrated on raising corn, alfalfa and beans. He began Mighty Oak Custom Woodworking in 2005 where he built custom cabinets and furniture. Joe was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the Cemetery Association, and the St. Helena Social Club. In his younger days he played slow pitch softball and volleyball. He enjoyed visiting with his friends and spent his entire life on the beloved Bruening family farm where he enjoyed hosting family get togethers. Joe is survived by his wife, Juanita of St. Helena; 5 siblings, Jan and Henry “Butch” Ewersmann of Hots Springs Village, Arkansas; Carla and Jim Wintz of Hartington; Tom and Pam Bruening of Norfolk, NE; Lynn and Jude Hobza of Omaha, NE; Mary and Duane Miner of Seward, NE; 21 nieces and nephews, 44 great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by parents, 4 brothers, Daryl, Ken, Ron and Jimmy.