Bertram "Avery" Bruce

BLISSFIELD—Bertram Avery Bruce, age 84 of Blissfield, passed away Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at home under the loving care of his family and Hospice of Lenawee. Bertram was born on December 7, 1932, to Lowell and Eileen (Sebring) Bruce in his grandmother’s home in Ogden Township. On March 4, 1955, he married Loretta Olrich at Zion Lutheran Church, in Ottawa Lake, Michigan. Avery graduated from Blissfield High School in 1950, and went on to serve in the United States Navy for two years. He was a lifelong farmer and raised hogs for many years on the family farm. Avery also worked at Simplex, Stubnitz, and was a manager at Tote Services in Tecumseh. He was active in Ogden Township as a Constable for 2 years and on the Board of Review. He was a long time member of the Zion United Brethren Church in Ogden Center. Avery also belonged to the Son of the Union Veterans of Civil War and the Boy Scouts. He was an avid hunter and took great pride in teaching his grandchildren how to hunt and shared many hunting trips with them. He enjoyed collecting arrow heads and shared his knowledge with many young students over the years, fishing and camping at Fletcher’s Pond with the family and riding motorcycles in his younger days. Avery enjoyed spending time with his best buds Muzzy and Ruger. Grandpa was a role that Avery took seriously and all his grandchildren enjoyed spending time at the farm with him. Avery was a father figure to many during his lifetime and will be missed greatly. In addition to his wife of 62 years, Loretta, Bertram is survived by his children, Pamela (Michael) Feeney, Sherry (Randy) Martolock, Teena (Matt) Snyder, Kellie (Mike) Forche and Luke Bruce; grandchildren, Michael Cory (Heather Anderson), Raquel (Pat) Hulswitt, Erin (Jason) Tomb, TJ Martolock, Kari (Jimmy) Moore, Kurtis Snyder(Krysta Barron), Shane (Paige)Snyder, Bradley (Courtney) Elston, Joshua (Anna) Feeney, Spencer Snyder, Alex Feeney, and Hunter Bruce; great-grandchildren, Tucker, Will, Owen, Jaxon and Brooks Cory, Isaac and Lane Moore, Savannah, Dylan and Addyson Martolock, Phoenix and Mackenzie Hulswitt, Ben Barish and Austin Tomb, Jade Williams and Lilly Snyder, and Gracie Snyder; and his sister, Audrey Flynn of Blissfield, and her son, Mike (Sue) Flynn. He was preceded in death by his parents, Eileen and Lowell Bruce and his grandparents, Archie and Velma Bruce and Pearl and Lena Sebring. Funeral Services for Avery will be on Saturday April 22, at 1:00 pm at Zion United Brethren Church in Blissfield with Rev. Aden Porter officiating. Burial will follow at Ogden-Zion Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday April 21, from 2-8 pm at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel in Blissfield, and again on Saturday at the church one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Zion United Brethren Church. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com

Bertram "Avery" Bruce

December 7, 1932 - April 18, 2017