Donald "Hoppie" Bruce

Donald W. “Hoppie” Bruce age 49, of Elkton died Sunday afternoon, December 29, at his home after a long battle with health problems.
He was born May 28, 1953 in Bad Axe to Jack Bruce and the late Bernadine (Gelnaw) Bruce. Don grew up in Chandler Twp north of Elkton and graduated from Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port High School in 1971.
On June 7, 1980, he was united in marriage to Barbara L. McBride at St. Felix Catholic Church, Pinnebog.
After high school he worked at Schubach Farms until 1978 when he began at Huron Castings, Pigeon where he was currently employed. In 2000,he began his own business, H & A Trucking.
Don “Hoppie” was a wonderful family man. He truly loved snowmobiling, deer and pheasant hunting with his boys. He and his wife, also very much enjoyed Laker sports, watching their boys compete in track, football and basketball, never missing a game or event.He had also coached t-ball many years, served with the Junior Livestock Assn. at the fair, was a member of the Thumb Tractor Pullers Assn and St. Felix Catholic Church, Pinnebog. Don was also an avid gardener, growing enough vegetables for the whole township and in the spring he could be found maple syruping with his buddy Jim.
Surviving are his wife, Barb; three sons, Justin L., Matthew A. and Timothy L. Bruce all at home; his parents, Jack and Pat Bruce of Elkton. Also, his siblings, John (Jenny) Bruce of Pigeon, Ted (Kathie) Bruce of Traverse City, Dan (Sally) Bruce of Elkton, Jim (Harriet) Bruce of Bay Port, Bill (Linda) Bruce of Unionville, Lorie (Ray) Krohn of Elkton, Kathy (Randy) Kerr of Elkton, Mike Bruce of Elkton, Dave (Edwinna) Bruce of Capac and Brad (Tammy) Bruce of White Lake; his stepbrothers and sister, Gary (Paulette) Kivel of Lupton, Sherry Burns of Cass City and Kevin (Tami) Kivel of Elkton.
Preceding him in death were his mother, Bernadine Bruce and a sister, Linda Smith.
A funeral mass will be conduced 2:30 PM Wednesday, January 1, at St. Felix Catholic Church. Sr. Mary Schwartz and Fr. Joseph Schabel will officiate with burial in Riverside Cemetery, Elkton.
A parish scripture service will be conducted 6:30 PM Tuesday evening at the Champagne Funeral Chapel, Elkton where friends may call from 7 to 9 PM Monday, 2 to 9 PM Tuesday and at the church after 1:00 PM Wednesday.