Brueckner remembered as a man who loved his family, his faith

'He was the hardest working man you will ever meet,' son says



LIFELONG LOVE–Clarence and Mary Brueckner moved to Camarillo in 1977 with their three sons. Courtesy photo

Clarence Brueckner will be remembered by loved ones for his commitment to his family and to his faith.

The 84-year-old Camarillo resident was struck and killed by a car Friday afternoon, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

“My dad’s life effort was to serve God,” Wayne Brueckner, Clarence’s son, told the Camarillo Acorn.

Brueckner, his son said, walked the same route around his neighborhood nearly every afternoon. On his way back, he always picked up a Jamba Juice smoothie for his wife, Mary, of 64 years.

Around 12:30 p.m. on April 29, Bruckner was struck on Las Posas Road and Temple Avenue while crossing the street, according to the sheriff’s office.

He was just yards from his Vista Court home, Wayne Brueckner said.

The driver of the car cooperated with police at the scene of the collision, Capt. Jason Hendren said. He could not share the driver’s age or factors that may have caused the collision.

Paramedics responded to the collision and took the man to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.

“Our whole family is very thankful to those who stopped to help dad and to the (first responders) and all those at Los Robles Hospital who did all they could,” Wayne Brueckner said tearfully. “We are thankful to know he was cared for when we couldn’t be there.”

Brueckner moved to Camarillo in 1977 with his wife and their three sons.

He served in the Navy for more than two decades and owned his own cleaning business, working nights and weekends to support his family.

“He was the hardest working man you will ever meet,” Wayne Brueckner said. “He came from nothing and built a great life for his family.”

He enjoyed flying his own airplane, raising birds, watching his grandchildren play sports and telling jokes.

“My dad had a joke for everything,” Wayne Brueckner said. “He never met a stranger.”

Wayne Brueckner said his father was active in several community churches, supported mission work and dedicated himself to Teen Challenge—a Christian nonprofit that provides substance abuse recovery and prevention programs.

The Camarillo Police Department is still investigating the collision and interviewing witnesses.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Senior Dep. Luke Riordan, senior traffic investigator, at (805) 388-5146.