Howard Brue, 93, of Ottawa died on Thursday, Dec. 17, at the home of his daughter in Ottawa. Private Services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 21, at Bethel Lutheran Brethren church in Ottawa with Pastor Randy Mortenson, officiating. The service will be live-streamed beginning at 1:50 p.m. on the Mueller Funeral Homes facebook page and the funeral home website www.MuellerFH.com Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be at the church, one hour prior to the services. A celebrations of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
Howard was born on Feb. 9, 1927 in Ottawa to Peder and Emma (Olson) Brue. He grew up on the farm on Wedron Road, first a farm hand with chores and then a bus ride to school. They farmed with horses for tilling the fields first, and eventually with a tractor. He married Betty E. Micklos on June 13, 1948 at St. Paul Lutheran church in Streator. He worked
at the Dayton Hydro Plant in Dayton, Illinois for 4 years and then in the Forestry Department at Illinois Power for the next 38 years until his retirement on Jul 1, 1989. After retirement, he and his wife, Betty, tended the lawns at the Marseilles Hydro Plant and at Illinois Power in Ottawa.
He was a member of Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church. He was a professional musician, playing the guitar and bass guitar. He performed in many musical revues, contests, local bands, and sang at his church.
He is survived by two children, Ron (Cathy) Brue, of Manville, and Rhonda (Bill) Brue McAlpine, of Ottawa, 6 grandchildren, Tiffany Brue Kenney, Travis Brue, Tracy Taylor, Ashley Brue Jansen, Matt McAlpine, and Sean McAlpine, 5 great-grandchildren, Emma Kenney, Jason Jansen, Jaxon Jansen, Jameson Jansen and Kaydence Jansen.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty on Feb. 12, 2020, 2 sisters, Charlotte Henrikson and Evelyn Brue Roeder, and 4 brothers, Palmer, Bernard, Reuben, and Francis Brue.
Pallbearers will be: Ron Brue, Sean McAlpine, Matt McAlpine, Bill McAlpine, Travis Brue, and Bob Brue.
He was laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.