Bruce R. Lundell

Bruce R Lundell, 59, soul mate to his special wife, Coleen Van Dyke, and loving father and grandfather, brother, son, and friend, died unexpectedly on Monday, March 2, 2015, in Mesa, Arizona. Bruce was a man's man, but most of all he was a gentleman--first, last, and always.

Bruce was born on Thursday, May 26, 1955, in Payson, Utah, and grew up in Benjamin, Utah. He spent his childhood working alongside his father and siblings on a family farm where he first learned about working hard--a trait he would pass on to his sons. In 1973, he graduated from Spanish Fork High School, a school also attended by his father and sons. On October 11, 1974, he married Brenda Lee Heath. They later divorced. He met the light and love of his life, Coleen, and they married in Mesa, Arizona, on November 9, 2007. He attended Snow College and Utah Valley State College. He spent most of his career working in power generation and electric utilities.

Bruce was proud of his Swedish ancestry. More importantly, he was proud to be an American and loved the freedoms established by the U.S. Constitution. Bruce frequently stopped and personally thanked countless servicemen and women for their service and sacrifice for our great country. He was part of the first Tea Party movement and hated Obama before it was cool.

Bruce loved singing karaoke and performed the meanest rendition of "Lady" by Kenny Rogers. Sometimes, people would approach him and ask if he was Kenny Rogers because they looked very similar and had great singing voices. He had a quick wit and an enduring sense of humor. Bruce was passionate about (and protective of) his Harley Davidson motorcycle. He had a need for speed and loved his boats and trucks. He liked fishing, water skiing, and hunting. He was an innovative problem solver and could fix almost anything Redneck style. He had a creative acronym for everything imaginable. Bruce was borderline fanatical about decluttering and maintaining cleanliness.

He had a sense for adventure and traveled all over the world, exploring the continents of Australia, Africa, South America, and Central America. Among the many destinations traveled to, he visited Peru, Brazil, Panama, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Canada, Bonaire, Honduras, and Tanzania. (Not bad for a little farm boy from Benjamin.) Bruce was fascinated by new cultures and foods. He loved scuba diving in remote places, such as several areas in the Caribbean, Mexico, and even scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef. He also enjoyed photographing flowers.

Bruce was the true meaning of a GIVER. He lived his life to the fullest, and made everyone laugh along the way. He loved deeply and had a very tender heart towards his wife, sons, and grandchildren. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

He is survived by his wife, Coleen Van Dyke; his sons, Jason Ray Lundell (Jan) and Trent Bruce Lundell; stepdaughter Carvel (Bob); his grandchildren, Jared, Julia, and James; and his siblings, Terry (Stefanie), Karen (Rod), Camille (Roger), Paul (Kathy), and Darrel. He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd Alva Lundell and Anna Laura Lundell, and son, Justin Lee Lundell. A public visitation is scheduled for 2 pm and tribute services will be held at 3 pm on Saturday, March 7, 2015, at the Melcher Mortuary Mission Chapel in Mesa, Arizona.