Mrs. Bruha was born Clara Pauline Decker in Burlington, Kansas on September 8, 1922. She was one of six children born to Louie and Pauline Decker. Mrs. Bruha graduated from Burlington High School in 1940, and received additional teacher’s training at what is now Emporia State University. She was a teacher in a one room schoolhouse near Prairie View for three years. During WWII, she was an aircraft worker at the Herrington Air Base. Following the war, she worked for the Santa Fe Railroad in Topeka, and married Frank Bruha in 1948. They moved to Salina, where Frank started a sheet metal business later known as Bruha Heating and Air Conditioning. They had two children, John and Mary. Clara was a homemaker and, later, a bookkeeper at her husband’s business.

Clara was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Bruha, in 1984. She was a widow for over twenty years. During that time, she was active in quilting, the Federated Women’s Club, and other groups and activities. She was also an avid gardener, genealogist, and traveler.

Survivors include a brother, John Decker, Burlington, Kansas, her two children, John Bruha and wife Suzette of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Mary Sheridan and husband Randy of Shawnee, Kansas, and five grandchildren, Lisa, Adam, Jonathan, Zach and Hilary.

A memorial service will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 24, at St. Mary’s Church, 230 E. Cloud, Salina. Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery following the service.

Memorials may be made to Rolling Hills Zoo, 625 N. Hedville Rd., Salina 67401 in memory of Clara Bruha.