March 29, 2024

Erna Marie DeBruyn

Nov. 29, 2021

Erna Marie DeBruyn, age 87 of West Des Moines, passed away on Monday, November 29, 2021 at her home surrounded by family.  Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 3, 2021 at 10:00 am at Coburn Funeral Home in Colfax.  Burial will take place at Colfax Cemetery.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 2, 2021 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at the funeral home.  Memorials may be directed to the Colfax United Methodist Church or Friend’s Homecare and Hospice.  Condolences may be left for the family at coburnfuneralhomes.com

The daughter of Merle Leslie and Caroline Jennie (Ramage) McCuen, Erna was born on July 4, 1934 in Metz, Iowa. She graduated from Colfax High School.  Erna worked at NW Bell for six years and Colfax Livestock for 14 years.  Erna also worked at Amoco as a service representative for 6 years before retiring in 1999. During her employment at Amoco, she moved to West Des Moines where she resided for over 25 years. She was a past member of the Colfax United Methodist Church, where she was a member for 50 years. She was also a former member of the United Methodist Church on Ashworth. In her youth, Erna enjoyed roller skating. She also loved playing basketball in high school, where she picked up the nickname “Killer”. Erna has always been a fan of watching sports, especially basketball. During her retirement  she enjoyed going to movies and out to eat, and loved reading.

Those left to honor her memory include her children, Larry (Kathy) DeBruyn, Linda Fulton and Lisa Kain; and two grandchildren, Lindsey Kain and Graham Fulton.  Preceding her in death were her parents and sister, Rosemary Olson.  

The family would like to extend a special thanks to St. Croix Hospice and Friends Homecare and Hospice (specifically Melissa, Ty, and Anna) for their care and compassion during their mother’s illness.