Bruce Fleck

As his family and friends can surely attest, Bruce Fleck truly understood the secret to a life well lived. He was a constant source of strength, even in the most difficult of times, and he was always supportive of those around him. Nothing brought Bruce greater joy than spending time with his loved ones, and he was happiest when surrounded by their love. He was well known for his solid work ethic and for the unshakeable faith that formed the foundation of his life. Forever loved, Bruce will be deeply missed by those who knew him best.

Although the 1930s were primarily defined by the Great Depression, there were glimmers of hope, too. The completion of the Empire State Building was a huge event, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade celebrated the need to give thanks in all things. There was much to celebrate in the lives of James and Mary (Foley) Fleck as well as they announced the birth of the baby boy they named Bruce on April 5, 1934, in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Growing up, Bruce was a typical young man of his generation in many ways. He was raised in the family home in Kalamazoo alongside his siblings, Lawrence, Clinton, and Marilyn. Bruce’s father supported the family by working as a mechanical engineer while Bruce’s mother dedicated herself to caring for her family as a homemaker. Bruce enjoyed a childhood full of memories and friendships. The Fleck family would often share rides with the Flach family, and over the years, the two families grew to be very close. While pursuing his education, Bruce attended local Catholic schools. He was very intelligent and even skipped a grade in grammar school. Bruce graduated from St. Augustine High School in 1951 and went on to earn his BA in Philosophy at Villanova, graduating in 1956. He was then enrolled in a seminary in Washington D.C., ready to answer his calling to God.

Sometimes our plans are not the same as God’s plans. On a trip from Kalamazoo back to the seminary, Bruce’s mother had Marcelline “Marcy” Flach ride with them to Willow Run Airport. Bruce and Marcy had known each other for years and when his Mother invited Marcy to ride with them he didn’t think much about it. Bruce was set to profess his vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience in December of that year, but he couldn’t get Marcy out of his mind. Eventually, he decided to leave the seminary and return home to Kalamazoo, where he began dating Marcy. Over time, their relationship continued to blossom into something truly special. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together, Bruce and Marcy were married on June 14, 1958, at St. Edwards Catholic Church in Vicksburg.

All who knew Bruce can certainly agree that, of all the things he loved in life, he treasured his loved ones above all else. He and Marcy were overjoyed to welcome their beloved children, Mike, Frank, Tom, Paul, Tim, and Theresa, who was born on his birthday, into their hearts and home. Bruce thrived in his role as a father and strove to provide for his children. He was very active in their lives and always encouraged them to participate in activities such as 4H, skiing, tennis, and softball. He was proud to expose many family members to the love of skiing. Bruce was a firm believer in the importance of a good Catholic education, and all of his children would go on to attend college. Later in life, he was thrilled to become a grandfather and even a great-grandfather. Bruce was a founding member of the Flach-Fleck-Woodin camping trips to bring as many as 150 family members together for fun and relaxation. He always considered himself blessed to be surrounded by so many loved ones.

Bruce graduated from University of Detroit Dental School in 1964. Most of his career was spent working as a dentist at the Coldwater State Home, where he found great satisfaction in caring for the residents with dignity and compassion for 25 years. Though his job was being a dentist, Bruce’s true passion was farming. His brother Clinton and himself along with their children maintained a farrow to finish hog operation. In his retirement years after Marcy death, Bruce took comfort in farming alongside his brother Clinton and his son Frank. Bruce’s wife Marcy also worked in healthcare as a nurse. He was thrilled to have family members go into the healthcare profession, especially nursing.

Never one to sit still for long, Bruce pursued many hobbies to stay busy in his free time. He enjoyed discussing politics and would discuss values and political stances with others. Bruce liked skiing, golf, and bicycling. He was an avid fan of college basketball and football and tirelessly supported his favorite teams, Villanova and Notre Dame. Bruce enjoyed traveling with many trips to Arizona, a special trip to Europe, and his beloved state of Colorado. A state where he first fell in love with when he was stationed at Ft. Carson while in the military. Many family vacations and special occasions were held in the beautiful Rocky Mountain State. He was also an avid reader and his favorite subjects were WWII and western history. In his later years, Bruce enjoyed spending time with his brothers Larry and Clinton and cherished his time spent with his sister Marilyn. He would often meet with his cousin Margie, Marilyn and other family members for breakfast where politics were often discussed. Bruce developed a special bond with his niece Julie and her children while they were living with him the past 5 years.

When reflecting on the life of Bruce Fleck, it is easy to see both his unwavering strength and his unconditional love for his family. He was always willing to go above and beyond to serve others in ways both great and small. A loving husband and father, Bruce was proud to watch his family tree grow to include so many members. He was a friend to all he met, and he was well known for his empathy and his generosity. Though he will be dearly missed, Bruce leaves behind a priceless legacy that his loved ones will be proud to carry on in his footsteps.

Bruce Fleck, age 88, of Scotts died on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Members of his family include his 6 children: Mike , Frank (Leslie) , Tom (deceased 2003) Paul (Fiancée Sheila Kraus), Tim( Wendy), and Theresa (Brent) Reed; sister Marilyn Bloom; 12 grandchildren: Morgan, Noah, Matt, Nathan, Joshua, Veronica, Rachel, Nicholas, Ethan, Samantha, Jeremy, Brandon; 2 great grandchildren: Bruce and Isaac. Besides his son Tom, he was preceded in death by his wife Marcelline in 1998; 2 brothers: Lawrence and Clinton; brother-in-law Tim Bloom; daughter- in-law Eva Fleck; 3 nieces: Mary Flach, MaryAnn Fleck, Linda Taché

Please join us at a Life Story Visitation where food, drinks and stories will be shared on Monday from 4-7 pm at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. A Rosary will be held at 7 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 am on Tuesday (Feb 14) at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 936 Lake Street. Burial will be in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery Visit Bruce’s webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com to archive favorite memories, photos and sign his guestbook. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Augustinian Retirement Fund or St. Joseph Catholic Church.