Bruce's Funeral Service Video

Bruce always knew he was going to farm. He didn't grow up farming, but each day after school he would bike out to Fred Sager's dairy and help out in any way he could. Bruce's own dad Walter had died when he was three years old, and his mother Margaret was raising him and his sister Jean on her own. And Bruce liked the idea of farming. He liked the idea of a man owning his own work.

He met a girl, Evelyn Rolf, on a blind date at the Pleasant Corner School Christmas Dance. She fell for him immediately. And why not? He was good-looking, charming, and strong. When Bruce dropped out of school and bought a milk route, his mother was furious. But he made a go of things, and he and Evelyn got married in 1948.

Dairy farms were still milking into cans back then, and Bruce drove his route picking them up one-by-one. He would like it to be known that could carry a full milk can in each hand. Bruce and Evelyn spent their days working and they spent their nights dancing. In 1955, they bought their first farm. They never looked back.

Bruce took to farming at once. In 1959 he was awarded the Outstanding Young Farmer Award in Outagamie County. He started with a small dairy, made it a bit bigger, and–in 1979–sold the cows and doubled down on crops. From there, the farm only grew. Bruce's days started early and were filled with hard and honest work. He delivered corn before dawn, cleared fields after dark, and worked for many happy hours in between. As they added more and more acreage, the farm became the center of their family and the center of their lives. He and Evelyn raised four children, each one of them every bit as hard-working, sharp-minded, and hard-nosed-German as Bruce.

And, when the work was done (as if it's ever done), Bruce and Evelyn relaxed. They played Sheepshead with friends, bowled, and enjoyed the life they were building together. Once they got their cottage on St. John's Lake in Crandon, Bruce spent weekends chasing the "big one that got away." They traveled the world and especially enjoyed traveling with their dear friends Don and Ruth Menning. They drove to Florida each winter (they would do this well into their 80s), where they made friends from Scotland, Iowa, New Jersey, and anywhere else you can imagine. They would return to those same friends year after year, but Bruce would always make sure they left in time to be home for the spring planting.

As Bruce and Evelyn aged and travel became difficult, they loved nothing more than sitting by the kitchen window, feeding the birds, watching the comings and goings of the farm, and visiting with whoever rolled up the driveway. Everyone who left would be seen off with a hearty goodbye wave.

Bruce's last day was as good as anybody could pray for. He and Evelyn had a visit with Pastor Kline, Bruce took communion, had a nap, and then woke up and ate an ice cream bar for lunch (this is the sort of thing you can do when you're 97 years old). Then Bruce tipped into Evelyn's lap and peacefully slipped away. They'd been married for 74 years.

Bruce would like to be remembered as a devoted husband, a loving father, a good farmer, a proud republican, a God-fearing Lutheran, and a tireless worker.

He is survived by his loving wife, Evelyn and his little sister Jean Holdorf. He is preceded in death by his parents, Evelyn's parents, and his daughter-in-law Sue.

He is also survived by his children: Jeff (friend Joan), Randy (Lisa), Gwen Bergsbaken (Bill), and Penny Lehrer. There are also his grandchildren: Loren (Bobbie), Michelle Sargent, Travis, Jeremy, Sean (Cindy), Hannah, Meghan Holschuh (Joe), and Shannon Lowenhagen (Melissa). Add to that eleven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, and you can see that Bruce's legacy will be a long one.

The family would like to thank Greenville Fire and the first responders. They would also like to thank Joann, Bruce's in-home caregiver, Christine, his visiting nurse, Kathy Schmidt for helping out, and the cousins Sandy and Dawn (Tim) for all they've done. An extra thank you to Dr. Anderla for his care.

The funeral will be at Shepherd of the Hills in Greenville on April 10. Visitation will be from 9-12, with the service to follow at noon. A luncheon will follow, and Bruce will be interred in Dale Union Cemetery immediately after.

Bruce, we will miss your guidance and your many, many opinions. We're proud of you and what you've made, and we love you very much.