James "Jim" Rex Bruns

James “Jim” Rex Bruns, 86, of Hillsboro, passed away at 11:39 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at Hillsboro Health Hospital. He was born October 26, 1939, just north of Pana, IL, a son of Harold John and Alpha Olivia (Hicks) Bruns. Jim was raised in the town of Rosamond and graduated from Pana High School. He married the former Carol Schmitz on November 8, 1958, and they later divorced. He then married Daisy Lea Kramer on August 19, 1983. She survives.

Mr. Bruns was a member of numerous associations and clubs including the Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department, the Tri-County Quail Club, Pheasants Forever, the Antique Tractor Club of Hillsboro with John Deere being his favorite, the past Hillsboro Moose Club, the Litchfield Moose Club 1634, along with serving at an EMT for the Hillsboro Area Ambulance Service. Jim worked as a shift supervisor at the Coffeen Power Station for 32 years and decided to retire in 1995. Later, upon graduating as an auctioneer from Missouri Auctioneer School in St. Joseph, MO., he owned and operated Jim Bruns Auction Service in Hillsboro. When he wasn’t working, he was outside hunting quail, pheasant, deer, and turkey or tending to his vegetable garden. Jim had a special love for the English Setter breed of bird dog and enjoyed training them.

He is survived by his wife, Daisy Bruns, daughters, Joyce (Greg) Lipe and Janice (companion Dennis Crawford) Bruns, his son, Jim Bruns, stepdaughter, Laura Boyd, stepson, Ed (Sue) Boyd, and stepson-in-law Denny Vincent, all of Hillsboro. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Ryan (Shiloh) Lipe of Hillsboro, Neil (Heather) Lipe of Troy, step-grandchildren, Michael (Anna) Vincent of Champaign, Rachel Vincent of Hillsboro, and his great-grandchildren, Zayne, Jensyn, & Dayton Lipe of Hillsboro, and Kayson Lipe of Troy. Also surviving are Jim’s sisters, Connie (Robert) Wooley of Pana, and Linda Scott of Nokomis.

Mr. Bruns was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, and an infant sister, Betty JoAnne Bruns, and stepdaughter, Becky Vincent.

Funeral services for Mr. James “Jim” Rex Bruns will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2025, beginning at 12:00 p.m., in Coffeen at the Toberman-Dean Funeral Home. Rev. Michael Lawton, Hillsboro Methodist Church, will officiate. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. and continue until the time of services. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Hillsboro. The family suggests any memorials be directed to Montgomery County Cancer Association or St. Jude Children’s Research.