Bruce Albert Anderson

Oh, wow! As I sit at the Hidden Valley Campground with my goats & dogs, a few possessions & paperwork, I contemplate how good God is as he spared Bruce this high adventure of being evacuated (1:00A.M.) due to wildfires too close to our home, a first! What better time than to share Bruce A. Anderson’s life story. He was born 68 years ago to Verna & Carl Anderson and has one older brother & four sisters and would tell pretty good tales of their growing up. Like only having one TV in a Montana town with only one station & all the neighbors would come over & watch it or the big hill they’d slide down on the sleds crossing a busy street at the end. And his dare devil life never changed.

His first wife Sandra & he had four children, Carl, April, Sonya, & Bruce Wayne and even though the marriage wasn’t for life, their relationship was. He was always there for his children and helped Sandra out throughout her lifetime.

He met wife number 2 but that only lasted a couple of years. It was important though in his life as through her, he met his best friend/brother for life, Chuck; Lisa, his third wife to be; Sam & Sharon, & later me, to make our own “family circle”.

Lisa & I met in South Dakota as VISTAS and when Bruce and & Lisa decided to get hitched, he came and took her back to California, leaving me, Sharon and Sam with baby Roger. Sam, Sharon & baby Roger soon after moved back to California. I went back to California for Bruce & Lisa’s wedding and met Chuck. Jim & Nona were there too as witnesses. The following year, Chuck and I married.

Bruce & Lisa had Jara in Sonoma County & Bruce’s 4 children would visit often. Later, they moved to Lake County where Bruce built their home in Coons Flat Valley with occasionally Chuck’s help.

When Roger was seven, we lost a member of our family circle, his Father, Sam. Both Chuck and Bruce took over until Sharon married Jon, another friend of our circle. After 20 years, Lisa, always loving Bruce, decided to leave and Chuck became terminally ill. Separately, Bruce & Lisa stood by his and my side as we watched in horror at what the rages of cancer did to Chuck. Chuck, wanting to take care of both me and his bro, “willed” me to Bruce upon his death. Later on, Bruce & I were married and enjoyed 15 years on the farm.

Bruce was a loyal Local 510 Union member. He started as a sign painter, telling us, “ya never step back to admire your work when doing a billboard on a scaffold”! Later, he became a Journeyman for the Trade shows mostly held in San Francisco, always there to train the “high guys”(ones who used the scissor lifts to hang convention signs) & did it all. When he retired, he was called one of the dinosaurs as he’d been working shows for so long.

He enjoyed his life, was his own man, & helped those in need. He leaves behind his loving wife, Glo, former loving wife Lisa, our children: Carl, April, Sonya (Glen), Bruce Wayne & Jara (Jim); our grandchildren, Heather (Jeremy), Renee, Ben, Jason, Nicole, Zachary, Bruce Jr., Brittany, Gibson, Katalina, & Buddy, and our five Great- Grandchildren, Serenity, Teresa, Erica, Bentlie, & Raelynne. He also leaves his loving siblings, Bill, Lynette, Sarita, Dawn & Jackie; many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, their children, Aunt Doris & lots of friends & good neighbors. Bruce will be surely missed!

So as the fire that is said to have been set as four different fires erupted in close proximity continues to grow (8500 acres now), I thank God for all the neighbors, friends & family who have helped me so much through actions & prayers. Bruce had a wonderful life & is at peace. And as my Aunt June says, “ Don’t sweat the small stuff, life’s too short. And Sharon’s favorite, “ Have no guilt, have no regrets, you did your best!”. Blessings to you all with love & hugs, Glo.