Vital Record: Death

Title: Funeral Bulletin for Bruce Hoorn
Date: 23 Sept 2015
Locality: 
Curator: Christine Fisher
Detail: 

Bruce Hoorn
Born: 17 March 1948
Died: 23 Sept 2015
Interment: Holy Cross Cemetery

Hoorn – Mr. Bruce J. Hoorn, age 67, of Sparta, died unexpectedly on Wednesday evening, September 23, 2015. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Mary Lou (Klocko) Hoorn; his children: Tony (Priscilla) Hoorn; Tina Hoorn (Tom Catalano); three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren; his siblings: Jan (Jim) Fisher, Jim (Sandy) Hoorn, Brian (Robin) Hoorn, Diane (Pat) Rison; his in-laws: Fran (Rick) Hargreaves, Joe (Bonnie) Klocko, Chris (Paul) Kurlenda, Stan (Betsy) Klocko, Leon (Sherri) Klocko, Tony (Amy) Klocko, John (Lisa) Klocko, Julie (Jim) Day; several nieces, nephews and good friends. The service to celebrate Bruce’s lie will be held Monday, September 28, 2015, 11:00 am at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr NW. Interment to follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends may visit with Bruce’s family at the funeral home on Sunday from 1-3 and 6-8 pm and for one hour prior to the service. Bruce honorably served in the U.S. National Guard. Donations in his memory may be directed to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

Bruce’s Life Story

Although he accomplished so much of which to be proud, it is his family that will be Bruce Hoorn’s lasting legacy. He lived an active lifestyle and was a man of many interests with a zest for life that was contagious. Bruce was a loving husband and devoted father who was such an inspiration and amazing role model where his children were concerned. He was the sort of guy who was willing to go out of his way to help others in ways both great and small. Someone who tackled life head-on, Bruce faced whatever came his way with courage and strength that were easy to see. Life will never e the same without him here, but his timeless legacy that is deeply rooted in compassion, unconditional love, and selfless generosity will be carried on by those who follow in his footsteps. Bruce will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

During the first half of the 1940s, the eyes of our nation were focused overseas as WW2 raged on throughout much of Europe. While countless young servicemen and women were sent to the front lines after the vicious attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, those who remained stateside became familiar with rationing on common goods such as coffee, rubber, paper, and sugar. The end of the war in 1945 brought dancing to the streets, and as the military came home that baby boom was underway. It was as America was adjusting to being a nation at peace once again, Martin and Helen (Thomas) Hoorn announced the births of the twin baby boys they named Bruce and Brian on March 17, 1948, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bruce was one of five children in his family and was raised alongside his brothers, Jim and Brian, and sisters, Jan and Diane. Bruce’s father worked at Kelvinator although he was a builder by trade so he enjoyed building homes as a second job while his mother was a homemaker who also worked part-time in food service for Kentwood schools, where her own children went to school.

In many ways, Bruce was a young boy of his generation. He and his siblings were close, and some of their best memories were made camping all over Michigan. Bruce and his brother were a strong duo when it came to sports as they were a force to reckon with in baseball, basketball, and football. He attended Townline Elementary School and then went on to Kentwood High School. Bruce attended Michigan State University for a year, then went to Sweden and attended Lund University, eventually graduating from Grand Valley State University after returning to the U.S. As a young man, Bruce served his country in the National Guard from July 16, 1971 through May 8, 1977.

First and foremost in Bruce’s life was always his family. He was an amazing father to his two children, Tony and Tina from a previous marriage. He was blessed to spend more than 30 years with his true love, Mary. They met while working at the social security office. They began dating, and after falling in love were married on November 12, 1983, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. As a father, Bruce wanted to teach his children things, however, he was never one to show his children how. Instead he took the next step and taught them how to do things by gently guiding them along. One of Bruce’s goals in life was to raise his children to become outstanding and independent people. He was protective of his children, and although he was also a strict disciplinarian when needed, he was always very loving, too.

Always one to be busy, Bruce was a man of many interests. He was an amazing mechanic who figured that if someone else could do it, so could he when it came to fixing just about anything. Bruce’s wife and children were always first and foremost in his life, but his work tools were a close second! He as a meat and potatoes guy, but would always find room for pizza and snacks.

With unending love for his family, Bruce Hoorn was the heartbeat of his family. He was willing to work hard in everything he did, and he faced whatever came his way head on. Bruce lived a life of purpose while making the most of every day he was given. He will never be forgotten.