Joe Dean Bruce, 88, of Joplin, Mo., formerly of Welch, Okla., died Sunday, November 14, 2021, at Mercy Hospital, after a short illness.
Born May 9, 1933 in Labette County, Joe was the son of Oliver Harry and Adah Lavina (Laizure) Bruce. He attended Cherokee County Community High School. He worked on his father’s farm before being inducted into the United States Army in 1953. He went to boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood Mo. followed by Engineer School at Fort Belvoir, VA. He served his country for 18 months in Korea, near Seoul.
Joe and Joy Kelsey, were united in marriage September 3, 1955 at Mound Valley Baptist Church. They then purchased a farm near Welch, Okla. Although farming and ranching was his passion, Joe worked for 30 years at B.F. Goodrich, working until it closed in 1986. He then worked at Ken’s Farm and Home in Miami, Okla. for fifteen years.
Joe and Joy were the parents to three children, Kristi, Lori and Michael. The family’s life centered around their church, the Welch Baptist Church.
Joe enjoyed his grandchildren, and he enjoyed using his dry wit to tease them. “I think you’re pulling my leg”, he would say, as one of them would be trying to have a serious conversation.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Dale and Harold Bruce; and two sisters, Lucille Shanks and Doris Wyrick.
Joe is survived by his wife Joy; children Kristi Lamb (husband Timothy) of Tulsa, Okla., Lori Schiska (husband Alan) of rural Joplin, Mo. and Michael Bruce (wife Teressa), of Moundville, Alabama. Also surviving are grandchildren, Ryan and Jennifer McClintock, and their children, Abigail and Lucas of Perkasie, Pennsylvania Melissa Kilzer, and children, London, Eowyn and Ryker of Parker, Colo., Misty Nelson (husband Rich) of Grandby, Colo., Tyler and Kelsey Waldrep of Trussville, Alabama, and Eli Bruce of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 17, also at the church. Pastor Ralph Heiney will officiate. He will be laid to rest in the Fairview Cemetery, east of Chetopa. Casket bearers will be Eli and Michael Bruce, Tim Lamb, Alan Schiska, Tyler Waldrep, and Dewayne Wallace.
In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to the Welch Baptist Church.