John J. Bruer Jr., 88, of Eau Claire died Thursday, March 2, 2006, at Sacred Heart Hospital. He was born in Eau Claire, WI on January 22, 1918, the son of John and Elvina (Berg) Bruer.\r\nHe served in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he witnessed the onset of the conflict at Pearl Harbor, aided in the defense of the Philippines, and was liberated from P.O.W. camp near Nagasaki in August of 1945.\r\nJohn married Eileen T. McInnis at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Eau Claire on November 28, 1946.\r\nHe worked 37 years in Eau Claire for the U.S. Postal Service, retiring as a window clerk in 1983.\r\nThroughout his life he greatly enjoyed music, and performed on the saxophone in many area dance bands.\r\nJohn was a member of St. James the Greater Catholic Church.\r\nJohn is survived by his wife of 60 years, Eileen; two sons, John (Lili) of St. Louis, MO, and Patrick (Jane) of Chapel Hill, NC; two grandsons, John Jacob Bruer of New York, NY, and Matthew Christopher Bruer of St. Louis, MO; and his sister, Mary Bresina of Eau Claire.\r\nMass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 6, 2006, at St. James the Greater Catholic Church with Father John A. Schultz and Father Thomas McInnis concelebrating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery where Military Rites will be conducted by American Legion Post #53. Family and friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and an hour prior to services Monday at the church. There will be a public prayer vigil at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.\r\nIn lieu of flowers family requests memorials be directed to Friends of Sacred Heart Hospital 900 W. Clairemont Avenue, Eau Claire, WI 54701.

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