Bruce Warren Willard

Bruce Warren Willard, age 66, passed on December 24, 2023 at home with his family. Bruce is predeceased by his father Robert Willard and step-father Ernie Austin. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Willard, his daughters Kristin Zasada (Zach), Natalie Snead (Patrick), Claire Willard and Jessica Willard, four grandchildren, his mother Ann (Austin) McMurren, his brother Randy Willard (Kimberly), and nieces and nephews.

Bruce was born in Denver and grew up in Greeley. He attended Cameron Elementary, Heath Junior High,New Mexico Military Academy, and the Air Force Academy. Bruce was recruited by the Air Force Academy to play football but when told he would never make the tennis team he took on the challenge and excelled. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1979 with a degree in Electrical Engineering and completed his active service as a T-38 instructor pilot and continued in the Reserves until 1997. He returned to Greeley in 1987 to work with his step-father Ernie Austin at Austin and Austin Real Estate, helping to build one of Greeley’s finest and Colorado’s oldest multi-generational real estate brokerage firms. Bruce was a real estate quadruple-threat of Residential Realtor, Commercial Realtor, Certified Appraiser, and Managing Broker.

Bruce was well known for his deep intelligence, integrity, work ethic, sharp wit and love for animals, especially dogs. He never complained as his health declined and always replied “everything will be OK” when questioned. He loved golf, wood-working, gardening, tennis, a wide range of music, fly fishing, and reading history- particularly military and U.S. related. Bruce had a tight-knit group of golf buddies that provided camaraderie, many laughs, and the opportunity to temporarily forget about his serious health condition. He maintained long term friendships with fellow Air Force Academy cadets who he held in high esteem. He also cared deeply for everyone at Austin and Austin and was proud of their work and their contributions to the success of the company, and cherished the many shared laughs and great friendships.

He was invaluable to his kids for assistance with math homework, painfully long and detailed instructions on the proper golf and tennis swing, having spirited political discussions, and replaying experiences as an AFA “doolie” at the dinner table imitating upperclassman mealtime harassment “tuck that chin in, shoulders back, cage those eyeballs mister!”. Bruce was infamous for his special bucket hat with fake long grey hair that he once wore to a Middle School parent teacher conference -much to his daughter’s horror- and a blow up T-Rex costume he delightedly wore at the annual Willard Arrowhead Golf Party while shouting into his megaphone,“no cheating!” He had a wonderful, dry sense of humor that stayed with him to the very end and will be missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held in May of 2024. More details to follow.