Bruce Layton Sturdevant

Bruce Layton Sturdevant died September 9, 2014, at the age of 91, in hospice care in Castle Rock, Colorado. After many years of dementia-related decline and a brief illness, Bruce died peacefully in the arms of his wife of 71 years, Helen Lorene Sturdevant.

Bruce was born December 5, 1922, in What Cheer, Iowa, to Louis and Ethel Sturdevant. He spent his early years in What Cheer and Thornburg, Iowa, where he met Helen in his 4th grade classroom. After representing his What Cheer High School graduating class as Valedictorian, Bruce attended the University of Iowa. His college education was interrupted during WWII when Bruce served in the US Army Air Corps as a flight instructor for P-40s and P-47s. While in Cadet training in Lansing, Michigan, Bruce briefly went AWOL to marry Helen (April 17, 1943). After his Honorable Discharge, Bruce returned to the University of Iowa, where he graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1948. Bruce also pursued graduate studies in Operations Research, Psychology, Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Engineering, and Nuclear Plant Design.

From 1948 to 1969, Bruce worked for Stanley Consultants, Inc. of Muscatine, Iowa, where he rose to the position of Vice President, Head of the Power Group, and served as a member of the Board of Directors. During this time, Bruce also volunteered for a number of local organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors and as President of the United Community Services of Muscatine; Vice President and Director of Iowa Children’s and Family Services; Trustee of Hillcrest Services to Children and Youth; and Sunday school teacher and youth counselor at the First Methodist Church of Muscatine.

In 1969 Bruce moved to Castle Rock, Colorado, and joined R.W. Beck and Associates (Beck) of Denver, Colorado, as Assistant Manager of the Central Design Office. Bruce’s career advanced quickly – he became Manager of the Central Design Office and a partner in the firm in 1976, and a member of the Executive Committee in 1978. Bruce retired in 1988, but continued as a Power Technologies Consultant and Partner Emeritus for the company. His expertise included the technical design and construction of a wide variety of power and energy projects, including cogeneration and fluidized bed power generation facilities. During his tenure at Beck, Bruce was a Registered Professional Engineer in Canada and 19 US states, designed more than a dozen power plants, and played a key role in the completion of more than 100 engineering projects. He was appointed to the Panel of Arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association, and served as a mediator for dispute resolution for Beck. Bruce was a life member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, elected to Pi Tau Sigma, the honorary mechanical engineering fraternity, and was nominated for the 1981 University of Iowa Alumni Achievement Award. Bruce served on the Board of Directors of Questa Oil Company from 1984 until its acquisition by Unit Corporation in 2000. Bruce remained active in church and community in Castle Rock, serving in a variety of lay positions at the First United Methodist Church, and on the Douglas County School Board.

Bruce’s many accomplishments speak for themselves, but one of the aspects of both his work life and volunteer service that gave him the most pleasure was sharing his expertise with others in the role of mentor and counselor. In an interview at the time of his retirement, he said, “The only thing you’re going to have when you come to the end are the relationships you’ve developed. To me, that’s the most important aspect.” Bruce’s memory will be sustained through the many lives he touched.

Bruce was preceded in death by his brothers Robert and Donald Sturdevant, and two daughters, Carmene and Camille Sturdevant. He is survived by his wife Helen, daughters Celeste Sturdevant Reed, Christine Sturdevant Brink and husband Robert, and Constell Sturdevant Steinhaus and husband Eric, as well as five granddaughters and four great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 22, 2014, at New Hope Presbyterian Church, 3737 New Hope Way, Castle Rock, CO 80109.

In lieu of flowers, please consider giving a donation in memory of Bruce to one of the following organizations. Please designate your donation as a memorial to Bruce L. Sturdevant and request that Helen be notified of your gift.

The University of Iowa College of Engineering, Engineering Excellence Fund, online at https://www.givetoiowa.org/GiveToIowa/WebObjects/GiveToIowa.woa/wa/goTo?area=engineering

or by mail:

University of Iowa Foundation

P.O. Box 4550

Iowa City, Iowa 52244-4550

(800) 648-6973

or

The Douglas County Libraries Foundation or the DCL No Leaf Unturned campaign, online at

http://douglascountylibraries.org/donate

or by mail:

Douglas County Libraries Foundation

100S. Wilcox Street

Castle Rock, CO 80104

or

What Cheer (Iowa) Public Library

641-634-2859

308 S. Barnes

What Cheer, IA 50268

www.whatcheer.lib.ia.us/whatcheer/support-our-library/support