L. WALLACE (WALLY) BRUCE

L. Wallace Bruce was born into eternal life Friday afternoon, December 11, 2015 at Brookridge Heights Assisted Living in Marquette with his loving family at his side. He was born on March 27, 1929 in Marquette to the late Leo and Katherine (Konwinski) Bruce. L. Wallace "Wally" graduated from Bishop Baraga High School in Marquette. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1952 with a B.A. in finance. He attended the University of Michigan and received his MBA in finance also in 1953. Wally served in the US Army in Germany in the 254th Battalion for the majority of the time while in the service with the rank of Corporal until discharged in 1955. He was able to travel to many countries in Europe during his enlistment. Returning to Detroit after discharge from the Army, Wally began his career at the Detroit Bank and Trust Co. as a credit analyst. He met his future bride, Barbara (Furlong) Bruce, of Newberry, through mutual friends in Detroit. They married in 1958 and moved to Chicago to begin working with Payne, Webber, Jackson & Curtis brokerage firm. Wally's father was the Branch Manager of Paine Webber in Marquette, and had become ill. Wally and Barbara decide...[more]

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o move back to Marquette to raise their family and he joined his father working at Paine Weber. After his father retired, Wally became the Branch Manager of the office for many years. He often travelled to New York to meet with the other Branch Managers throughout the country. The Marquette Paine Webber office was the smallest office in the country at the time and was established here because of the booming mining industry. Throughout his career, Wally with integrity helped many families plan financially for their future. Wally loved his Catholic Faith, the life of a large family of six children and the U. P. of Michigan. He spent time outside with his sons fishing and hunting. He also was an avid golfer as another excuse to enjoy the outdoors. He taught the whole family to downhill ski and attended more hockey and little league baseball games for his five sons that can be counted. Our family will always remember him as a wonderful father, gentleman and a true servant of God. In the community of Marquette, some of Wally's service commitments included being one of the founding members of the St. Vincent de Paul society with the late Cardinal Szoka. He was a 50 year + Marquette Rotary Club member and served as past president. He received the Paul Harris Fellow award several times. Wally was on the St. Peter Cathedral finance committee for many years. Finally, he was a member of the Marquette General Hospital Board for over 35 years. Wally is survived by six children, Gregory F. Bruce of Marquette, Mary B. (William) Stoiber of Elm Grove, WI, Douglas J. (Dana) Bruce of St. Paul, MN, Paul E. (Laura) Bruce of Marshfield, WI, David L. (Dena) Bruce of Leesburg, VA and Stuart W. Bruce of Marquette; 13 grandchildren, Aleks Bruce, Katherine, David, Emma & Sarah Stoiber, Katherine, Patrick and Sean Bruce, Allison and Jacob Bruce, Grace, Leo W. and James Bruce; sister, Susan Donohoe of Plano, TX; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and a brother-in-law, Dennis Donohoe. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Canale-Tonella Funeral Home with a parish prayer service to be held at 5:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter Cathedral with Rev. Msgr. Michael Steber officiating. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the mass in the church. Interment will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery. Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy are kindly asked to consider St. Peter Cathedral in Wally's memory. His family would like to gratefully thank the entire staff of Brookridge Heights Assisted Living, Arcadia Home Health and UP Home Health & Hospice. Their love and care towards our Father was extraordinary during the time he resided there. Wally's obituary may also be viewed at canalefuneral.com where memories may be shared.