Comments on: Bruce C. Evans

By: Doug Scheule

Doug Scheule — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 23:20:56 +0000

I, like BFritz and Bruce, was one of those aspiring distance runners at WHS that just wasn’t very good (we were always trying to keep up with Randy & Steve Downing…and failing). That said, I’ll echo what Randy said about Bruce: kind, easy-going, forgiving, a gentle soul. As will always be the case when you get a bunch of young guys together, good-natured ribbing happened, and (like the rest of us) Bruce was the recipient of his share. Especially on the roundball court. Especially following one of his patented Bruno-drives to the hoop. But he invariably took it in stride, with a smile, in the spirit in which intended. I had a lot of respect for the guy.

Other than as members of the track team, he and I didn’t hang out a lot, but did so just kind of randomly from time to time—and I enjoyed those encounters. One of the last times in the NE USA was shortly out of high school when he, Paul Koewing & I went to Concert 10 at the Pocono International Raceway, a mini-Woodstock kind of affair with quite a few groups performing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concert_10). Due to intermittently nasty weather, what was supposed to be a 1-day event stretched into an all-day & all-night series of performances. (Emerson, Lake & Palmer came on at like 4:00 am!). Good times for all involved. Ultimately Bruce and I reconnected much later, briefly, when both of us ended up in KS in the ’90s, he in Lawrence and me in Manhattan. Last time I saw him was when I stopped in to visit while traveling from Kansas City back to Manhattan. It was just a shoot-the-breeze visit for a couple hours kind of deal—I think we probably cracked open a beer or two along the way and just ‘got caught up.’ Bruce was married by then, settling into the family man routine. He seemed well contented with life…I was happy to see it. And am sorry to see him gone so soon. May he rest in peace!

By: Neal Stolpe

Neal Stolpe — Fri, 12 May 2023 18:43:33 +0000

Very sorry to learn of Bruce’s passing. He was a good guy in the truest sense. I worked with him many years ago at the university and had a good visit with him tbe last time I was in Lincoln. My condolences to his family.

By: Randy Priest

Randy Priest — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 17:51:21 +0000

Bruce was the most loyal friend. We became friends at Woodstown High School about 57 years ago. He lived 1,500 miles away but he would always call to check on me and always wanted to know what was going on in his hometown of Woodstown, NJ. Bruce was as kind and easy going as they come. He didn’t have a mean bone in his body and he would forgive anyone that ever caused him harm. All of my family members remember him as the nicest person who always had a smile on his face. I will miss Bruce tremendously because he was a best friend to me and such a gentle soul. I’m fortunate to have been one of Bruce’s friends for life!

By: Roger Hammer

Roger Hammer — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 14:52:49 +0000

I was very surprised at Bruce’s passing. I am very sorry. Bruce helped me with the Brown County Soil Survey out of Ainsworth, Nebraska in 1984-85. I also worked with Bruce doing contract work at the MLRA Soil Survey Office in Lincoln, Nebraska in 2013-14. I attended Sam and Skylar’s high school graduation receptions. Bruce was always enjoyable to work with and was a good friend.

Kelli, Sam, and Skylar – I am praying for you.

Roger Hammer, Retired Soil Scientist

By: Jan Peters

Jan Peters — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 11:21:14 +0000

I am very sad to hear of Bruce’s passing. I had not seen him in many years. I believe the last time we saw each other was at our grandparent’s farm in Bridgeton. He was managing the Christmas Tree farm at the time. But I also remember getting together with all my cousins a few times a year when we were young. My condolences to his family.

By: diane miller

diane miller — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 02:24:15 +0000

I’m so sorry to hear about Bruce! I’ll never forget skiing with him and and his family! Such a great time! He also had us at his house in Kansas on our move to Colorado. It was a highlight of our trip! He was a great cousin! Hoping for the best for Kelli and the girls!

By: Mike Kucera

Mike Kucera — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 23:44:43 +0000

Kelli, my condolences to you and your family. I always enjoyed working with Bruce. He made work a lot funner and had a great personality. Thoughts and prayers are with Bruce.

By: Bob Fritz

Bob Fritz — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 19:46:58 +0000

Comments from his Woodstown High School Classmates:

-Sorry to read this. I knew Bruce well. He spent a lot of time at my house and hanging with the guys in the neighborhood. RIP Bruce. from Bruce Robinson

-Tommy “Boogalew” Lewis, “Bruno”, and I spent a lot of time together, slot car racing in Bruno’s attic. Bruno gave Tommy that nick name, a perfect fit. I miss them both. from Brian DeMaris

-I was friends with Bruce in High School. We spent time together as paper boys, making model airplanes , listening to Chicago and Black Sabbath, and just hanging out. Later we were on the track team together as distance runners, but neither of us were very good. We both went into the service after graduation and we lost track of each other. I later visited him and his family in Lawrence, Kansas.
He was a good guy – rest in peace my friend. from Bob Fritz

By: Carol and Bob Deuber Jr.

Carol and Bob Deuber Jr. — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 18:52:46 +0000

Carol and I are so sad to hear the news of Bruce’s passing. As cousins we grew up together at our grandparent’s farm, the center of family life. Bruce would often recall being on the farm with great affection for the hard working immigrants who sold eggs and grew tomatoes. The farm was a world of many wonders to Bruce and myself; tractors, grain bins, chicken coops, and of course the vegetable garden. His passion for his career may have sprung from sharing the pride we all had at the old farm.
I can’t imagine the grief felt by all who lost a good man too soon.

By: Bonnie Mortimer

Bonnie Mortimer — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 01:02:59 +0000

It is with great sadness that I would like to express my deepest sympathy for the passing of my Cousin, Bruce Evans. I have so many fun memories of Lisa, Linda and Bruce in our younger years, I respected Bruce so much for his decision to do what he wanted, to move west and pursue the career that he had chosen. To his family, his wife, Kelli and children, Sam and Skylar, I send my prayers in the hopes they bring some comfort in their time of great loss. I express the same his sisters Linda and Lisa. With love, Bonnie