Funeral services for 61-year-old Michael Robert Bruch of Audubon will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Manning, IA, with Rev. Johnathan Conner officiating. A family interment will take place at the Gray Cemetery in Gray, IA, following the funeral. After the interment, the family will be hosting a reception at The Manning Hausbarn in Manning. Public visitation with the family will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Manning, IA. Mr. Michael Robert Bruch, age 61, of Audubon, IA, passed away on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, IA.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Audubon.
Michael “Mike” Bruch was born on December 12, 1964, to Robert and Lois (Schultes) Bruch. He attended Gray Consolidated Schools through sixth grade, then attended Audubon Community Schools, graduating with the class of 1983. After high school, he earned a degree in diesel mechanics from Iowa Western, and then did exactly what everyone knew he would do — came home to farm. In March of 1987, a redhead caught his eye at Grimm’s in Manning. Becky was warned by her brother ahead of time: “He’s a good guy, but he works a lot.”
Turns out both things were true.
Mike and Becky (Jensen) were married on September 2, 1989. Mike instantly became the favorite son on Becky’s side of the family, which was impressive considering she had four brothers. Then again, Mike fit right in, especially since he came as part of a package deal with his dad and brothers. Becky quickly realized she hadn’t just married Mike; she had married them all.
Mike and Becky’s story began on an acreage near Irwin. In 1995, they purchased their farm where Mike and Becky raised their 3 children, Diana, Dustin, and Abby. He taught his kids how to work hard, show up for family, fix what needed fixing, and have a little fun along the way. There were constant projects being built, repaired, improved, or completely torn apart. Mike and Becky built their current home together, which was designed to blend comfort, craftsmanship, and beauty, a reflection of them. They helped transform each of their children’s houses into true homes. With their hands, their hearts, and their unwavering support, Mike and Becky extended the same nurturing foundation they had established for themselves.
Then came the grandkids: Jayden, Lucas, Aspen, and Grace, along with Aubrey, who Mike loved just the same. Grandpa Mike’s version of babysitting involved tractor rides, swing pushes, making sure toy cars stayed charged, and showing up when he could for theater performances and sporting events.
Mike loved farming the way some people love music, art, or sports. He spent over 40 years farming alongside his family members, primarily his brother Brian. The machinery was washed and waxed every spring and every harvest. He also enjoyed trucking – hauling seed corn and livestock, and could tell you where a semi was headed before it passed by. He “road farmed” on drives with Becky, usually in exchange for ice cream, and somehow turned scouting crops and equipment into a day date. Naturally, a stop at a John Deere dealership could qualify as vacation sightseeing.
Mike was a ray of sunshine in work clothes. He could talk to absolutely anybody. It didn’t matter if you were family, neighbor, stranger, or someone he had just met in line somewhere — Mike would have a conversation going within minutes.
After his heart attack in May of 2013, Mike and Becky made more room for adventure. Roadtrips included sleeping under the stars in the jeep, thousands of miles driven across multiple states, and unforgettable visits to countless national parks. Each year, there were trips into the middle of Nebraska to watch Sandhill cranes and drives to Walden, Colorado, where they would sit on gravel roads for hours hoping to spot moose. In January of 2026, they traveled to Tasmania, Australia, proving that even a man who once could have happily stayed within a four-county radius could still be talked into seeing the world. After that trip, Mike admitted to Becky that without her, he probably never would have traveled beyond home.
Still, no matter where they went, Mike stayed Mike. He loved train rides, helicopter tours, farming, equipment, good conversation, and music playing loud — especially KS95.7, which somehow only came in clearly inside Mike’s tractor, much to Brian’s confusion. He loved deeply, worked endlessly, and showed up every single time. Anybody who knew Mike will never question what mattered most to him: Becky. Family. Friends. Farming. John Deere.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Lois Bruch, his father and mother-in-law, Kenneth and Fern (Struve) Jensen, and his sister-in-law Karen Jensen. Mike is survived by his wife of 37 years, Becky Bruch; his children: Diana and Brett Eddy, Dustin and Haillie Bruch, and Abby Bruch and Dawson Mack; his grandchildren: Jayden, Lucas and Aspen Bruch and Grace Eddy; his brothers: Brian and Nancy Bruch and Randy and Annette Bruch; brothers-in-law Lonnie Jensen; Mark and Sue Jensen; Scott and Val Jensen, Kyle and Sherry Jensen; and sister-in-law Jodi and Brian (Aubrey) Nissen; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Mike Bruch was Generous. Reliable. Witty. Legend.
For the people who loved him most, he will remain their North Star forever.
Memorials may be directed to the Bruch Family. They will be designated at a later date in Mike’s honor, and they may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 201, Audubon.
