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Bruce Audren Glass

May 29, 1929 - May 13, 2006
Holland, MI

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Visitation

Tuesday, May 16, 2006
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EDT
Dykstra Funeral Homes
Mulder Chapel
188 West 32nd Street
Holland, MI 49423
(616) 392-2348
Driving Directions

Visitation

Tuesday, May 16, 2006
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Dykstra Funeral Homes
Mulder Chapel
188 West 32nd Street
Holland, MI 49423
(616) 392-2348
Driving Directions

Service

Wednesday, May 17, 2006
1:00 PM EDT
Central Park Reformed Church

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Hospice of Holland
270 Hoover Blvd. Holland 49423

Central Park Reformed Church
614 Myrtle Ave Holland 49423

Life Story / Obituary


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Bruce Audren Glass was a devoted family man who found his greatest moments of happiness in the company of his family. He was a proud father and grandpa and a loving husband. With his poet's heart and joker's wit, he formed many valuable friendships. His Lord was his guide in life, and Bruce tried each day to follow His noble example.

The year 1929 marked a reversal of fortune for America. After a decade of economic prosperity, the stock market suddenly crashed and the Great Depression spread through the land. In Blendon Township, Andrew Glass and his wife Johana Hemina Gebben maintained their positive spirits by looking toward a different future, the future of their family. They were expecting a child, and on May 29, 1929 they were blessed with the healthy birth of their son Bruce Audren Glass.

The eldest of seven children, Bruce grew up in Blendon Township with companionship of his five brothers and one sister. His father provided for the family through his job at Mead Johnson Chemical Plant in Zeeland. Throughout his childhood, Bruce and his brothers kept themselves busy with chores around the family farm. The Glass family belonged to the North Blendon Christian Reformed Church where Bruce received a spiritual education that would guide him throughout his life.

Following his graduation from Zeeland High School in 1947, Bruce enlisted in the US Army. He was trained as a radio operator, and he served in Korea during the Korean Conflict. After the war ended Bruce remained in the service for two more years, operating out of Japan. Upon receiving his discharge, Bruce traveled to Mexico City and attended Mexico University. He graduated in 1956 with a degree in English.

After finishing college, Bruce returned to the Zeeland, Michigan. In the year 1958 he attended a social function at a friend's house. Here he met an attractive young woman named Phyllis. They easily fell into conversation, and were immediately attracted to one another. That night, he returned home and wrote a poem for her, and he would continue writing for he the rest of his life. They began dating, and they were married on September 4, 1958. Bruce and Phyllis were blessed with four wonderful children. Alan was born in 1959, followed by Leah in 1961, Kathleen in 1963, and Elizabeth in 1967.

Throughout his professional life, Bruce always worked in writing and advertising. In 1958, the year of his marriage, he was employed at the Zeeland Record Newspaper. He then took a job at Selling for the Red Book, which dealt with address information for the fruit packing industry. After a few years he relocated to Big Dutchman where he worked in the Advertising Department for many years. Later he worked for both Jacqua and then Dennis Mockma and Associates. At the age of fifty-six, Bruce's writing and travel work came to an abrupt end. He suffered a heart attack, and he could no longer maintain the kind of schedule that Big Dutchman required. For the next six years he worked for Holland Special Delivery as a local driver. His health remained fragile. After heart surgery and several visits to his doctors, Bruce agreed that it would be best to retire.

Bruce was an organizer and a perfectionist. He saw no sense in doing a job if it was not done correctly. He was very well-read, a walking encyclopedia. Bruce was a devoted writer who produced many poems over the years and recently completed a novel about a family during the Civil War. Although he was known for his jokester wit, he was also a highly protective father and husband. Life was black and white for Bruce, and he was conservative in his thinking.

With retirement, Bruce found more time to spend with his family and loved ones. Although his heart condition prevented him from traveling in the style of his youth, he maintained his love for the outdoors. He and Phyllis would often pass an afternoon in their yard, working on the garden and enjoying each other's company. Bruce loved the tranquility of a morning spent fishing. His dogs were always a big part of his life. His most recent companion was named Britney, though he eventually nicknamed her "Maggie." In his later life, Bruce was thrilled to see his family grow with the blessing of three grandchildren, Kyle Daleiden, Karen Glass, and Gerrit Esch. He always saw his family as his greatest accomplishment, and he was very proud of his children and grandkids.

Bruce will be remembered for his devotion to his Lord. He was a spiritual man who talked openly about his faith. An active and longtime member of Central Park Reformed Church of Holland, he served as a Sunday School teacher, a deacon, and an elder. Till the day he died, Bruce sang hymns while he showered. His life was full of reasons for thanksgiving, and each day he gave praise to the Lord for the many blessings in his life.

Among the many people who loved Bruce, he will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

Bruce died at his home on Saturday May 13, 2006. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Elizabeth 1989, and his son, Alan in 2005. His family includes his wife of 47 years, Phyllis Glass of Holland; daughters, Leah and John Esch of Laingsburg, MI, and Kathleen Daleiden and Tom Northmore of Holland, MI; three grand children; brothers and sister, Dale and Janis Glass of Charlevoix, MI, Marilyn and John Cookingham of Paris, MI, Lloyd and Deanna Glass of Grand Rapids, MI, Gary Glass of Grand Rapids, MI, and Ronald and Arlene Glass San Jose, CA; brother-in-law, Henry Geurink of Borculo, MI; several nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation will be 2 - 4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. on Tuesday May 16, 2006 at Mulder Chapel, Dykstra Life Story Funeral Home, 188 West 32nd Street. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Central Park Reformed Church of Holland with the Rev. David Landegent officiating. Burial will be in Noordeloos Cemetery. Memorial contributions maybe made to Central Park Reformed Church or to Hospice of Holland. Please visit Bruce's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may sign the guestbook, archive a favorite memory, or post a memorial contribution.

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