Walter Winfred Bruens, 96, of Harrisonville, Missouri, passed away at 12:35 am on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Crown Health and Rehabilitation Center in Harrisonville.  Funeral services were held on Tuesday, June 3, 2025  at the Harrisonville United Methodist Church. Interment in Orient Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers, the Bruens family requests that donations be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, Harrisonville United Methodist Church, or Cass County Retired Teachers Scholarship Fund.

Walt was born in Hermann, MO, on March 31, 1929, to Walter William Bruens and Dorothy Johanna (Vollertsen) Bruens. Walter graduated from Hermann High School in 1947 and initially worked multiple jobs to save up for college. He eventually attended Central Missouri State University (CMSU) before being called to active duty in the U.S. Army. Following his military service to Korea in 1953, he finished his Bachelor's Degree in Education at CMSU with a major in History in 1954. On May 30, 1954, he married Nancy Sue (Elder) Bruens and to their marriage they had two sons, Stephen Walter Bruens and Jeffrey William Bruens.

Walter's 30 years of service to education began at First Creek Country School, a rural school in his home county of Gasconade. Following his return from the military and completion of college, Walter taught History at West Platte High School in Weston, MO, where Nancy taught English nearby at the Platte City High School. After completing his master's degree with the University of Missouri, he accepted a High School principal's job at Wellington, MO. Following that school year, he returned to Weston to be the West Platte High School principal for eight years. In 1967, he accepted a job as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools for Cass R-IX, ultimately moving up to Superintendent where he served until his retirement in 1981. From 1970 to 1975, he was responsible for the execution of the major reorganization of the main Cass R-IX Harrisonville campus with a new Senior High School (1970), the new McEowen Elementary School (1973), and a permanent Cass County Area Vocational-Technology School (1975). In 1975, he was selected as the recipient for the Outstanding Administrator Award by the Missouri Interscholastic Press Association and Missouri Journalism Educators Association.

After retirement, he continued to support the Cass County Retired Teachers Association and became a Financial Planner for Waddell & Reed. His next endeavor was working for Mayflower Contract Bus Service in which he received the opportunity to deliver buses all over the United States to include locations as far as Alaska. In addition, he also drove for multiple schools for their athletic events and other activities. He also frequently drove the Ararat Shriner's van from Kansas City to St. Louis moving ill and handicap children to and from the Shriner's Hospital for surgeries. He also interviewed and qualified the families of the children requiring the Shriner's medical help. Other activities over the years included support to the Harrisonville United Methodist Church and their Men's Fellowship group, Harrisonville Kiwanis Club, Masonic Lodge and Ararat Shriners, Boy Scouts, and the Harrisonville Gun Club. His multiple civic duties were at levels of city, county, and national government. These duties included planning and zoning, election and voting support, and execution of U.S. Census every decade. Along with the love for his family, Walter loved hunting, golfing, and gardening.

In the midst of participation in all of these civic activities, Walt received multiple recognition and awards. The following list provides many of the memberships and awards:

·         1958-1967 - Member of Weston Rotary Club, serving as President in 1963.

·         1967-2024 –57-year member of Harrisonville Kiwanis Club being past president and secretary for over 25 years. He received the Legion of Honor and George Hixson Fellow Award.

·         Served many years in various roles in Boy Scouts of America including being an adult leader, troop sponsor, and an area fund raising campaign chairman. He was also an Honorary Warrior in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say.

·         Joined Weston Masonic Lodge #53 in 1960 and transferred to Cass Lodge #147 in 1967 where he has remained a member. Became an Ararat Shriner in 1970 where he and his late wife served in many positions over the years: Jesters, Greeters, Ambassadors, Potentate's Aide, Hospital Representative, and member of the "Sand Blasters" golfing group. He received the Certificate of Merit Award and was Past President of Cass County Shrine Club.

·         Member of Board of Trustees for Cass County Public Library from 1972-1992.

·         Served many years as an Election Judge for Cass County.

·         Served over 25 years for the City of Harrisonville on the City Planning and Zoning Board.

·         Member of the Cass County Retired Teachers Association since 1982, serving as President and Treasurer. In 2002, received Retired Teacher Educator of the Year.

·         Served 1950-2010 (7 decades) as a National Census reporter and crew leader.

·         1975 Outstanding Administrator of the Year for the state of Missouri.

·         Past President of West Central Missouri School Administrators.

·         Served on Superintendents Advisory Committee at Central Missouri State College.

·         In 1977, received the Distinguished Service Award from the Hermann Missouri Jaycees.

·         In 1989, received Award of Excellence in Education from the Harrisonville Area Chamber of Commerce.

·         Lifetime Member of the University of Missouri – Columbia Alumni Association.

·         Honorary Chapter Farmer from the Future Farmers of America (FFA)

·         Honorary Life Membership to the Distributive Education Club of America (DECA)

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Nancy Bruens; two sisters: Eileen Gawer and Marion Kuhn. Surviving are his two sons: Steve Bruens and wife, Sylvia, of Huntsville, Alabama; Jeff Bruens and his wife, Lori, of Harrisonville, MO; five grandchildren: Paul Bruens of Nashville, TN; James Bruens and wife, Lindsey, of Huntsville, AL; Kate Bruens of Kansas City, MO; Grace Bales and husband, Dillon, of Archie, MO; and Crystal and fiancé, Baylor Mead, of Butler, MO; four great-grandchildren: Vivian Bales, Hattie Bruens, Sylvia Bales, and Henry Bruens; five nieces: Tammy Hertz of Denver, CO; Elizabeth Kuhn and Laura Kuhn of Charlottesville, VA; Sharon Gawer of Owensville, MO; and Susan HonFeldt Botkin of Mansfield, Arkansas.