Dennis Bruggink

Madison - Dennis Carl Bruggink of Madison, Wisconsin, age 69, passed away on July 21, 2021 at Agrace Hospice.  He was born on May 3, 1952 in Sheboygan Wisconsin to Dirk John (John) Bruggink and Sarah Dorothy (Lubbers) Bruggink. Dennis was married for 40 years to Joan.

He was especially proud of his Dutch heritage and always wondered why people had such a hard time pronouncing his last name.  Dennis came to Madison to study engineering in 1970, right after the Sterling Hall bombing, met Joan, who came to study chemistry, married and has lived here ever since then.  He worked for the University of Wisconsin at the Fusion Technology Institute for his entire career and taught himself computer programming.  He biked to work every day, winter and summer, and was an avid cross-country skier, hiker, home brewer, and gardener.  His family has many fond memories of camping out west in the VW van.  He is loved by his many friends of all ages for his sense of humor and his larger than life presence.  He was a fighter, but cancer treatments eventually were too much for him.

He is survived by two daughters, Faye Bruggink, and Allison (Matt) Ackerman, and beloved granddaughters Lily and Ellie Ackerman and Ana Ahedo Bremer.  Dennis is also survived by two brothers:  David Bruggink in Sheboygan WI and Don Bruggink of Holland MI, and many relatives in the Sheboygan area.

Please direct any memorials to the UW Carbone Cancer Center in Madison WI or Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg.  There will be no formal services, but there will be a celebration of life in the future.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Road

(608) 238-3434

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www.cressfuneralservice.com