David Allen Bridges

David Allen Bridges, 82, of Washington, KS passed away July 13, 2023 at Bryan Medical Center West, Lincoln, NE.

A visitation was held on Friday July 21, 2023, from 12 until 5:00 pm, at Ward Funeral Home. A Rosary service was held at St. Augustine’s Church, in Washington, on Friday at 7:00 pm.

A funeral service was held Saturday, July 22, at 10:00 am, at the church. Father Joseph Kieffer officiated. Sheila Ouellette was the organist and song leaders were Carly Crome and Christine L’Ecuyer. Hymns were “Amazing Grace,” “How Great Thou Art” and “On Eagles Wings.” “God Bless the USA” was also played.

Honorary pallbearers were Dillon Willbrant, Kileab Willbrant, Gatlin Willbrant, Rylan Willbrant, Carly Crome, Phillip Mueller, Joshua Mueller.

Burial followed at the Washington City Cemetery.

David was born October 31, 1940 in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine to Paul Edgar and Reta (Bonsey) Bridges. After graduating high school, he joined the United States Army in 1960. He was sent overseas not long after enlisting and spent much of his time in Korea, Japan and Okinawa in those early years. In 1963, while stationed in Korea, he met and married Kum Ok Lee, who had a son Bobby, whom David later adopted. Together they were also blessed with a son, Paul. He took immense pride in serving his country and made a career of it. While in the Army he decided to pursue a postsecondary degree and received his Bachelor's Degree from Columbia College in 1979. He continued moving up through the enlisted ranks and took great pride in becoming a 1SG in the Field Artillery. He was then nominated and selected to attend the Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, but instead chose to retire. He finished his military career as the acting SGM for DPCA at Fort Riley, KS in 1984 after 24 years of Distinguished and Honorable service. In 1988 Lee passed away. After his retirement from Fort Riley he continued to work there as a civilian until 1997. In 1993, he was united in marriage to Judith (Brungardt) Willbrant in Manhattan, Kansas and was blessed with two more sons, Edward Dean Willbrant and David Paul Willbrant. They then moved to Washington, KS in 1997 where they provided lawn care, house cleaning services, and worked for MarCon Pies. In 2002, they opened “The House of Treasures Thrift Shop”, where he repaired donated items as needed. He especially enjoyed working on computers and other electronics. David enjoyed pampering his wife, family, friends, and his beloved cats. He belonged to VFW, American Legion, and the Knights of Columbus. David will be remembered and missed by all who knew him.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Paul and Reta Bridges; his first wife Kum ok Lee Bridges; son Bobby Bridges; and brothers, Gary Bridges and Charles (Danny) Warren; sister, Sandra Sandobal; and father and mother-in-law, Bernard and Isabelle Brungardt; brothers-in-law, Spencer Blenderman and LeRoy Prellwitz; and sister-in-law, Dona Brungardt.

Survivors include his wife of 30 years Judith; sons, Paul (Donna) Bridges of Manhattan, KS, Edward D. Willbrant, Clyde, David P. (Jennifer) Willbrant, Washington; seven grandchildren, Dillon Willbrant, Clyde, Kileab Willbrant, Gatlin Willbrant, Rylan Willbrant all of Washington, Carly (Trevor Kramer) Crome, Sabetha, Phillip (Taylor) Mueller, Clyde and Joshua (Jessica) Mueller, Clifton; and five great-grandchildren; and brothers-in-law: Robert Brungardt, NE, Larry (Karen) Brungardt, AZ, Jerry (Sandi) Brungardt, AZ, Dennis (Christy) Brungardt, KS; and sisters- in-law, Betty Prellwitz, NE, and Clair Blenderman, NE.

A memorial fund is established and will be designated later. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, Washington.