James “Jim” Rex Bruns, 86, of Hillsboro, died at 11:39 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, at Hillsboro Health.
Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until the time of services at Toberman-Dean Funeral Home in Coffeen, on Saturday, Nov. 15. Funeral services will follow at noon at the funeral home, with the Rev. Michael Lawton of Hillsboro Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Hillsboro. Hough-Dean Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Bruns was born Oct. 26, 1939, just north of Pana, a son of Harold John and Alpha Olivia (Hicks) Bruns. He was raised in the town of Rosamond and graduated from Pana High School. He married the former Carol Schmitz on Nov. 8, 1958, and they later divorced. He then married Daisy Lea Kramer on Aug. 19, 1983, and she survives.
Mr. Bruns was a member of numerous associations and clubs, including the Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department, the Tri-County Quail Club, Pheasants Forever, the Antique Tractor Club of Hillsboro with John Deere being his favorite,the past Hillsboro Moose Club, the Litchfield Moose Club 1634, along with serving as an EMT for the Hillsboro Area Ambulance Service. He worked as a shift supervisor at the Coffeen Power Station for 32 years and decided to retire in 1995. Later, upon graduating as an auctioneer from the Missouri Auctioneer School in St. Joseph, MO, he owned and operated Jim Bruns Auction Service in Hillsboro. When he wasn’t working, he was outside hunting quail, pheasant, deer and turkey and tending to his vegetable garden. He had a special love for the English Setter breed of bird dog and enjoyed training them.
He is survived by his wife, Daisy Bruns; daughters, Joyce (Greg) Lipe and Janice (companion Dennis Crawford) Bruns; son, Jim Bruns; stepdaughter, Laura Boyd; stepson, Ed (Sue) Boyd and stepson-in-law, Denny Vincent, all of Hillsboro; grandchildren, Ryan (Shiloh) Lipe of Hillsboro, Neil (Heather) Lipe of Troy; step-grandchildren, Michael (Anna) Vincent of Champaign, Rachel Vincent of Hillsboro; and great-grandchildren, Zayne, Jensyn and Dayton Lipe of Hillsboro and Kayson Lipe of Troy; sisters, Connie (Robert) Wooley of Pana and Linda Scott of Nokomis.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son; an infant sister, Betty JoAnne Bruns; and stepdaughter, Becky Vincent.
Memorials may be made to Montgomery County Cancer Association or St. Jude Children’s Research.
Condolences may be left at www.houghfuneralhome.com.
