Paul Leonard Bruce Jr.

Sunrise September 18, 1934

Sunset March 22, 2024

Paul Leonard (Buzz) Bruce, Jr. of Westminster, Colorado, was born on September 18, 1934, to Paul L. Bruce and Hilma (Vaara) Bruce in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Their family home was in Boyes, Montana where Paul’s parents ranched and operated Bruce Mercantile, the Boyes general store. The family moved to Denver, Colorado when Paul was ten years old. He attended East High School in Denver but left school to join the Navy in 1952 at age seventeen. As a Radio Operator, he celebrated his eighteenth birthday at sea on the USS Mt. McKinley. Following his honorable service in the Navy, he returned to Colorado, where he held a wide variety of jobs until he started his career in 1963 as an insurance agent for State Farm. He retired from the agency in 1997 after 34 years in the profession.

Paul was an avid outdoorsman who loved to camp, fish, and explore the mountains of Colorado and the plains of his home state, Montana. He had a fascination with aviation; he obtained his private pilot’s license and was a member of the Jeffco Pilots Association, where he made many friends. He was also a longtime member of the Westminster Elks. He maintained lifelong relationships with his childhood friends in Montana and Colorado, his Navy buddies, and those he met and served during his career. Paul was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends at his properties in Gunnison and Raymond, Colorado.

Paul is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Janet Bruce, his brother, John Bruce, children, Sharon (Darrell) Monroe, Tom Bruce, Ray (Lorian) Bruce, stepchildren Bonnie Dearmin, Dede (Mark) Staab, Holly (Dean) Baker, eleven grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren, nephews, and nieces. Deceased siblings are Charlene (Anker) Tangsrud, Althea (John) Nisley, and Janet Ondrasek.

Say not in grief “he is no more,” but in thankfulness that he was.

Burial at Crown Hill Cemetery, 7777 W. 29th Avenue, Lakewood, CO at 10:00 am on Thursday, April 4, 2024. Reception to follow at Westminster Elks, 3850 Elk Drive, Westminster, CO from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening By Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here, To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer, To stop without a farmhouse near, Between the woods and frozen lake, The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake, To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep, Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.