US ARMY
WWII
EUROPE
Roger D. "Jim" Bruce passed away peacefully on 11/2/2018 at his residence in Lynnwood, WA, at age 96. Born in South Dakota, Jim and his family soon settled in the Pacific Northwest. He graduated from Garfield H.S. in Seattle, where he excelled playing baseball.
Following Army service in Europe during WWII, he married Joan Gerson in 1943, his partner for the next 75 years. Jim graduated from the UW and launched a successful lifetime career in real-estate. He was an executive with Pope & Talbot, and was instrumental in developing the Port Ludlow community on the Olympic Peninsula.
Jim and Joan spent most of their retirement years at Port Ludlow, where he mastered the short-game on his beloved golf course. He also cherished time at the family beach cabin on Whidbey Island. Family gatherings brought Jim the greatest joy. Always the charismatic and generous patriarch, Jim was affectionately known as "Papa" to his adoring grandchildren. Each spring Papa was the proud Master of Ceremonies for the annual "Bruce Classic" golf tournament, where the family competed for a tacky but coveted polyester green jacket. Fun times and cherished memories for all. Jim's later years were saddened by the untimely passing of his only children - - Nancy Hansen in 2008, and Kyle Leeland in 2012. Yet, Jim kept his glass half-full, whistling his happy tunes and lifting the spirit of others with his contagious wit and encouragement.
Jim is survived by his wife Joan; his grandchildren Reed Hansen, Bryce Hansen (wife Rachael), Conor Hansen (wife Andria), Chelsea Hansen, and Mollie Korzynek (husband Nicolai); his great grandchildren Adrijana, Sasha and Novak Korzynek, and Walker Hansen; and his widowed sons-in-law Gary Hansen and Randall Leeland.
We all lift our glasses to you, Papa.
Published in The Seattle Times on Nov. 25, 2018
WWII
EUROPE
Roger D. "Jim" Bruce passed away peacefully on 11/2/2018 at his residence in Lynnwood, WA, at age 96. Born in South Dakota, Jim and his family soon settled in the Pacific Northwest. He graduated from Garfield H.S. in Seattle, where he excelled playing baseball.
Following Army service in Europe during WWII, he married Joan Gerson in 1943, his partner for the next 75 years. Jim graduated from the UW and launched a successful lifetime career in real-estate. He was an executive with Pope & Talbot, and was instrumental in developing the Port Ludlow community on the Olympic Peninsula.
Jim and Joan spent most of their retirement years at Port Ludlow, where he mastered the short-game on his beloved golf course. He also cherished time at the family beach cabin on Whidbey Island. Family gatherings brought Jim the greatest joy. Always the charismatic and generous patriarch, Jim was affectionately known as "Papa" to his adoring grandchildren. Each spring Papa was the proud Master of Ceremonies for the annual "Bruce Classic" golf tournament, where the family competed for a tacky but coveted polyester green jacket. Fun times and cherished memories for all. Jim's later years were saddened by the untimely passing of his only children - - Nancy Hansen in 2008, and Kyle Leeland in 2012. Yet, Jim kept his glass half-full, whistling his happy tunes and lifting the spirit of others with his contagious wit and encouragement.
Jim is survived by his wife Joan; his grandchildren Reed Hansen, Bryce Hansen (wife Rachael), Conor Hansen (wife Andria), Chelsea Hansen, and Mollie Korzynek (husband Nicolai); his great grandchildren Adrijana, Sasha and Novak Korzynek, and Walker Hansen; and his widowed sons-in-law Gary Hansen and Randall Leeland.
We all lift our glasses to you, Papa.
Published in The Seattle Times on Nov. 25, 2018
US ARMY
WWII
EUROPE
Roger D. "Jim" Bruce passed away peacefully on 11/2/2018 at his residence in Lynnwood, WA, at age 96. Born in South Dakota, Jim and his family soon settled in the Pacific Northwest. He graduated from Garfield H.S. in Seattle, where he excelled playing baseball.
Following Army service in Europe during WWII, he married Joan Gerson in 1943, his partner for the next 75 years. Jim graduated from the UW and launched a successful lifetime career in real-estate. He was an executive with Pope & Talbot, and was instrumental in developing the Port Ludlow community on the Olympic Peninsula.
Jim and Joan spent most of their retirement years at Port Ludlow, where he mastered the short-game on his beloved golf course. He also cherished time at the family beach cabin on Whidbey Island. Family gatherings brought Jim the greatest joy. Always the charismatic and generous patriarch, Jim was affectionately known as "Papa" to his adoring grandchildren. Each spring Papa was the proud Master of Ceremonies for the annual "Bruce Classic" golf tournament, where the family competed for a tacky but coveted polyester green jacket. Fun times and cherished memories for all. Jim's later years were saddened by the untimely passing of his only children - - Nancy Hansen in 2008, and Kyle Leeland in 2012. Yet, Jim kept his glass half-full, whistling his happy tunes and lifting the spirit of others with his contagious wit and encouragement.
Jim is survived by his wife Joan; his grandchildren Reed Hansen, Bryce Hansen (wife Rachael), Conor Hansen (wife Andria), Chelsea Hansen, and Mollie Korzynek (husband Nicolai); his great grandchildren Adrijana, Sasha and Novak Korzynek, and Walker Hansen; and his widowed sons-in-law Gary Hansen and Randall Leeland.
We all lift our glasses to you, Papa.
Published in The Seattle Times on Nov. 25, 2018
WWII
EUROPE
Roger D. "Jim" Bruce passed away peacefully on 11/2/2018 at his residence in Lynnwood, WA, at age 96. Born in South Dakota, Jim and his family soon settled in the Pacific Northwest. He graduated from Garfield H.S. in Seattle, where he excelled playing baseball.
Following Army service in Europe during WWII, he married Joan Gerson in 1943, his partner for the next 75 years. Jim graduated from the UW and launched a successful lifetime career in real-estate. He was an executive with Pope & Talbot, and was instrumental in developing the Port Ludlow community on the Olympic Peninsula.
Jim and Joan spent most of their retirement years at Port Ludlow, where he mastered the short-game on his beloved golf course. He also cherished time at the family beach cabin on Whidbey Island. Family gatherings brought Jim the greatest joy. Always the charismatic and generous patriarch, Jim was affectionately known as "Papa" to his adoring grandchildren. Each spring Papa was the proud Master of Ceremonies for the annual "Bruce Classic" golf tournament, where the family competed for a tacky but coveted polyester green jacket. Fun times and cherished memories for all. Jim's later years were saddened by the untimely passing of his only children - - Nancy Hansen in 2008, and Kyle Leeland in 2012. Yet, Jim kept his glass half-full, whistling his happy tunes and lifting the spirit of others with his contagious wit and encouragement.
Jim is survived by his wife Joan; his grandchildren Reed Hansen, Bryce Hansen (wife Rachael), Conor Hansen (wife Andria), Chelsea Hansen, and Mollie Korzynek (husband Nicolai); his great grandchildren Adrijana, Sasha and Novak Korzynek, and Walker Hansen; and his widowed sons-in-law Gary Hansen and Randall Leeland.
We all lift our glasses to you, Papa.
Published in The Seattle Times on Nov. 25, 2018
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