Bruce Wayne Gillum

Age 57, passed away July 17, 2018, in Kalamazoo after a year-long battle with B Cell Lymphoma. Bruce was born on July 29, 1960, in Grand Rapids to Nancy Gillum (Putman) and the late James Gillum, their second child and only son. He grew up with his four sisters in the Alamo township countryside, building forts, hunting rabbits, tending chickens, pulling weeds, digging potatoes, riding snowmobiles, attending Alamo Community church, picking blueberries on his maternal grandparents farm and taking yearly trips to visit his paternal grandparents and cousins in Arkansas. His fascination with all things electronic and a love of airplanes, led him to join the Air Force after graduating from Otsego High School in 1979. He served as an airplane electronics technician during a time of peace at Air Force bases in Texas, Germany and Maine before returning to Michigan. With additional college courses added to his experience, he spent the rest of his working life drawing and designing parts for several manufacturers including Whirlpool in St. Joseph, Flex in Coopersville, and most recently for Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Grand Rapids. He liked strong, intelligent women who didn't hesitate to argue with him and in Sarah VanderMeulen, he found his match and partner. They met and married in January 6, 1990 and Bruce became part of the VanderMeulen family as well, including Sarah's parents and brothers Nick, Joe, Tom, and Matt. Bruce expanded his immediate family when Sarah gave birth to their two children, Alex and Kathy. Raising and supporting his wife and children became the focus of his life. In his free moments, he relaxed by doing woodwork and miniature carvings that he enjoyed sharing with his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bernice and Harry Putman of Bangor; Irene and TD Gillum of Oil Trough, Arkansas, his father James Gillum of Kalamazoo, Sarah's parents Ken and Mary VanderMeulen of Kalamazoo, and his brother-in-law, John Van Eck. Bruce is survived by his loving wife, Sarah (VanderMeulen); son, Alexander James Gillum of Coopersville; daughter, Katherine Rose Gillum; His Mother, Nancy Gillum (Putman) of Glen Ullin, North Dakota; sisters, Elizabeth Gillum of Glen Ullin, North Dakota , Margaret Watson (Tom) of Williamston, Patricia Gillum of Dexter, and Reatha Van Eck (Kevin Merrill) of Stevensville; brothers in law, Nick VanderMeulen (Masamichi Yano) of XX, Japan, Joe (Bronwyn) VanderMeulen of Traverse City, Tom (Sarah) VanderMeulen of Ypsilanti, and Matt (Karen) VanderMeulen of Vicksburg; 11 nieces and nephews; four great nieces and nephews; and many, many cousins. The family dog Suzi Q will also miss him. A celebration of Bruce's life will be held in August 19th at a picnic for family and friends at Milham park in Kalamazoo. The time for this event will be posted on his Facebook page when finalized. His family appreciates the love and financial help they have received from the church community and the Alamo Foundation during the stressful time of his illness. We also cannot write enough good things about the Rose Arbor Hospice facility and their staff that helped him live the best life possible in his final days. In lieu of flowers, any contributions to help cover the family's medical costs can be made to Sarah Gillum.