Jay Lee Bruinsma, 60, went to his heavenly home Monday, June 29, 2026 at his home in Stickney.  Memorial service will be Friday, July 3 at 10:30 am at Prairie’s Edge Methodist Church in Stickney.  Visitation will be Thursday, July 2 from 5 to 7 pm, with a prayer service at 6:30 pm, at Prairie’s Edge Methodist Church in Stickney.

Jay Lee Bruinsma, one of six children born to Eldon and Clara (Van Noort) Bruinsma, was born September 24, 1965. He passed away at his home peacefully on June 29, 2026. He grew up on the family farm a couple miles south of Stickney and graduated from Stickney High School in 1983. He went to work at the Stickney Coop Elevator shortly after graduation and remained there for 36 years. Jay’s other employment after that included CHS in Corsica, Menards in Mitchell and most recently Legacy Lumber in Corsica.

Jay was united in marriage to Sherri McDonnell on September 21, 1996. To this union, three children, Landon, Lauren, and Lincoln, were born. Jay was a very proud parent of his children and an avid Jaguar fan, especially while they were growing up and playing various sports.

Jay was a member of Prairie’s Edge Methodist Church in Stickney, SD for many years and served on several boards during that time. Jay was a proud member of the Stickney Volunteer Fire Department for 31 years. He was also a member of the Stickney City Council for 25 years and served as President/Mayor for many of those years. Jay and Sherri also helped with the community youth group while their children were in high school. In Jay’s younger adult years, he threw darts and shot trap. Jay loved any chance he could get to go out to Compton Canyon Club cabin with family or hunting groups. He loved driving around that part of the Black Hills and looking at wildlife for hours and hours. Jay enjoyed many card and board games, especially SORRY.

To say that Jay’s children were the light of his life is an understatement. He loved nothing more than putting on a Jaguar shirt and his photo button (for whichever kid was playing whichever sport) and heading out to a game. There were many winning teams, state tournaments and memories made during those years. Jay became a grandpa in 2023 and again in 2025.

Although there were many struggles in Jay’s life, he never hesitated to do something good for someone else. Anyone that truly knew Jay knew he was a good person with a bad disease. His last few years were spent attending AA were where he formed many positive friendships.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Sherri of Stickney; 3 children: Landon and November Bruinsma (Renley and Raelin) of Stickney; Lauren and Ryland DeVries of Mitchell; and Lincoln Bruinsma of Stickney; his mother, Clara; a brother, Dave and Teresa Bruinsma; and 2 sisters: Darlene and Dennis Koch and Connie and Pat Pollreisz; many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews; and his in-laws: Mike and Betty McDonnell, Jodi and Earl Parsons and Joe and Heather McDonnell

He was preceded in death by his father, Eldon, two sisters: Barb and Al Buchholz and Kathy Terwilliger, a  great-niece, Destiny Karpinen; a great-nephew, Mason Karpinen; and both sets of his grandparents, Fred and Kate Bruinsma and Gerrit and Agnes Van Noort.