Bruce Joseph Englund went home to be with the Lord on October 15th 2019. He was born on November 15th 1947 to the proud parents of Dewitt W. Englund and Gene Miller Englund in Rochester Minnesota. Moving to Phoenix Arizona at the age of three for his fathers work and grew up in the area. He graduated from Gerard Catholic High School in 1966 and went to Arizona State University to study Information Systems Management before going to Vienam in 1968. Bruce was a patriot and loved his country, he joined the military because he wanted something better for himself. He was in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971 and returned home. In the summer of 1971 he went back to Phoenix College where he met Katie the love of his life. They married on October 26th 1974 and started their many adventures together.
Bruce felt the calling for the military and re-enlisted in January of 1975 where he and Katie were stationed at Fort Ord California. In December of 1976 he got orders for deployment to Korea and Katie stayed stateside to be close to family for the next year. He returned home December of 1977 and was then to be stationed at Fort Bliss Texas. They adopted their first son Joseph in October of 1979 after being told they were unable to conceive.
Bruce and his family were then stationed at Fort Polk Louisiana. He served his country with distinction and honor earning both a Silver Star and Purple heart for service to our country. Serving in the Special Forces as Green Beret and 1st Sergeant in the U.S. Army! While in Vietnam he was exposed to Agent Orange like many others and developed many health conditions from the chemical. He was honorably discharged from the Army in April of 1986.
Bruce and Katie were able to conceive and welcomed Corey into their little family in January of 1987 followed by the birth of Sarah in July of 1991.
Bruce worked as a warehouse manager for Sahara Sports Wear in El Paso Texas supplying embroidery work for all sports clothing until he looked else where for better work which brought him and his family to Allen Texas. Bruce continued to work in the embroidery industry until he found work with Nextel communications who later bought out by Sprint. He retired as the Logistics Manager for Dallas in the fall of 2007.
Bruce was a humble man, a man of faith and man of strength for his family and friends. His life of retirement revolved around his love for his wife and kids. He loved model railroads and baseball and was a history buff on the Civil War. He always enjoyed giving history lessons to anyone who would listen. In March of 2014 he learned that he would be a grandfather and he was so excited and couldn't wait to meet his first grandchild. On November 18th 2014 Olive "Ollie" Kaur Pannu was born and Bruce's new name became Pop Pop and Ollie had him wrapped around her little finger from the moment she was born. A few years later he was greeted with a new grandchild in Eleanor "Ellie" Jo Pannu and they became best buds. Bruce loved his grandchildren so very much there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for them and enjoyed spoiling them very much.
He is survived by Katie his wife of 45 years, three children: son's Joseph & Corey, daughter Sarah, Son-in-law Jas, two grandchildren Ollie & Ellie and brother Walt.
Remembrance in lieu of flowers the family ask that you make a donations in Bruce Englunds honor to the Disabled American Veterans Association(D.A.V.).
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