Bruce Edward Fenstermaker, of Florence, Ariz., went home to Heaven surrounded by his family on Monday, April 27, 2020, following a brave fight with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a form of leukemia, and COPD. He was 70 years old.
Bruce was born on October 30, 1949, in Cleveland, Oh., to Lee Aaron, Jr. and Doris Margaret (Rieger) Fenstermaker. On his 1st birthday in 1950, his family arrived in Southern California, where Bruce and his three brothers grew up. He attended Catholic schools and graduated from Damien Catholic High School in LaVerne in 1968. Following graduation, he enlisted and proudly served in the US Army, where he trained to fly UH-1 'Huey' helicopters . Once discharged, he attended Chaffey College and Cal State Fullerton for a time.
He was a hard worker with a great work ethic that he passed on to his children and grandchildren. While in high school, he worked as a box- boy for Chino Farms Grocery and an ambulance attendant with Clark Ambulance, both located in Chino. When he was in college, he worked as an orderly and pathologist's assistant at Inter- Community Hospital in nearby Covina.
Bruce met his sweetheart, Linda Lee Lyle- Aria in 1970, at a gas station in Covina, Calif., where both were putting fuel in their cars. Linda saw an 'Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association' sticker on his '57 Chevy, and having a dad who flew planes, struck up a conversation. Our dad told us years later that he only had enough to put 37 cents in his car, so he kept his hand on the nozzle to make it look like he had more money! They married the following year at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Chino, and celebrated their 48th Anniversary this past August 21st.
Bruce was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather, and a kind and generous person. In the years following his marriage to Linda, he drove trucks and worked in construction, but was best known for his exhaustive research and recovery of WWII missing from the South Pacific, which began in the early 1980's with the support of his wife. What started as a venture to recover rare aircraft quickly changed when he was directed by Papua New Guinean natives to a wrecked P-47 Thunderbolt with an American soldier still inside. To date, more than 225 soldiers have been located and reported to our government by Bruce, who never took money from others to fund his work. He was called the aviation world's answer to Indiana Jones during a 1991 interview, and brought multiple rare Japanese and American aircraft stateside when he first began.
He was preceded in death by his father, Lee, in 1997.
Bruce is dearly missed by his wife, Linda; his children, Malynda (Stephen) Wilson of Chehalis, Wash., Jennifer (David Brooks) Fenstermaker of Apple Valley, Calif., and Gregory (Jessica) Fenstermaker, also of Apple Valley; grandchildren, Chelsie and Lochlan Wilson of Chehalis, Rose Wilson of Plattsburgh, NY, and Gregory Fenstermaker Jr. and Caiden Fenstermaker of Apple Valley; mother, Doris of Hemet, Calif.; brothers, Lee (Ellie) Fenstermaker III of Hemet, Dennis (Vicki) Fenstermaker of Valdosta, Ga., and Gary (Jayne) Fenstermaker of Florence; special 'puppies,' Chico and Lola; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Due to current restrictions, a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at a date to be announced in the future. Visitation will begin at noon on Thursday, April 29, at Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park in Mesa, Ariz. Interment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery in Riverside, Calif.
Bruce's family wishes to thank all of the the lovely people that have supported us throughout his illness, including hospital staff, friends, and neighbors. We truly appreciate each and every one of you.
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