Leonard Bruce Carlson

Born in Brainerd, Minnesota on December 29, 1939 to Leonard Eugene Carlson and Marjorie Wideman Carlson, "Bruce" was raised in a home filled with strong Christian values and an ethic that hard work was important. When Bruce was 2-1/2 his Dad sought better employment opportunities in California. After settling in the Fullerton, CA area, Bruce and his mother followed on the train.

Fullerton offered the family many opportunities and soon Bruce's parents were the owners of a moving and storage company and well settled into the community. Bruce attended local schools, graduating from Fullerton High School in 1957 and continuing his education at Fullerton Junior College. He played waterpolo and was on the swim team in both high school and college. He enjoyed his high school and college summers as a lifeguard at a local swim club owned by his swimming coach. He also enjoyed raising homing pigeons, riding his horse, Molly, and learning to shoot his rifle while roaming the local hills.

Bruce worked intermittently for his parents' moving and storage business throughout his high school and college years, ultimately joining the business on a full-time basis in his early 20s. As in many family businesses, you learn how to do everything—from being a local and long distance truck driver to warehouse manager, dispatcher, employee supervisor, mechanic—always filling in where needed. In the early 1980s the company was sold and Bruce went to work for the County of Orange as a heavy-duty equipment mechanic, advancing to leadworker over the years. He retired in 2000 and spent the next 7 years (until Fran retired) enjoying riding his horse and taking almost daily 5-7 mile walks throughout the community.

Bruce was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. In his adult years his parents began attending Sunkist Baptist Church in Anaheim, CA. Bruce joined this church also after a few years. At this church he met Fran. They were introduced by the pastor who married them 6-1/2 months later, beginning a commitment of love and devotion that lasted 43 years. Church has always been important to them as a couple, serving as the foundation for their Christian growth and enabling them to enjoy many wonderful friendships and church activities. Bruce has served on numerous church committees and also as an usher for many years.

The family was blessed with a total of six children—Denise, David, Diana, Julie, Ryan and Jill and eventually 15 grandchildren. As the years went by all the children moved off in different directions--not a single one even living in the same county. When Fran retired in 2007, they felt lead to follow their youngest daughter, Jill, and her family who had moved to Texas. Bruce reasoned that it was easier and faster to fly to California to visit the kids than drive on the California freeways to visit them. It isn't certain they all agreed with that but they understood the decision to relocate to a more reasonably priced retirement area. Bruce loved Texas—the beautiful Hill Country, the friendliness of the people, the patriotism, the politics and especially the more affordable cost of living. Thus, they settled in San Antonio. Fran and Bruce had a goal of visiting every part of Texas. Although they didn't make it to every area, they did enjoy trips to Dallas, Waco, Houston, Galveston, Big Bend and the surrounding area, and parts of East and West Texas. Living close to the beach in California, they were particularly attracted to the Texas Coast and spent a considerable amount of time enjoying that area.

Since January 2015 Bruce had been in declining health, although now it is apparent that the initial phases of his illness preceded this time. After his death, it was discovered that he suffered from Amyloidosis, a very rare and fatal autoimmune disease that is extremely difficult to detect. The family is thankful the opportunity has arisen to provide assistance to the Mayo Clinic for research on this devastating disorder so that perhaps future patients may have a better outcome. In the meantime, the family rejoices that Bruce is now healthy and resting peacefully at last in the Arms of God.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

SATURDAY

OCTOBER 17, 2015

11:00 A.M.

PORTER LORING NORTH CHAPEL

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Salvation Army, Bruce's favorite charity.