JOHN KENNY BRUCE
John Kenny Bruce, 79, peacefully passed away on March 3, 2022, in Green Valley, Ariz. He was born on September 24, 1942, in Fargo, N.D.
John’s father passed away when he was an infant and he was raised as an only child by his mother, spending the majority of his childhood in South Dakota. He graduated from Milbank High School in 1960 and from South Dakota State University in 1964 with a degree in education. He began his teaching and coaching career in Cottonwood, Minn., where he met the love of his life, Kathleen Munsch. John and Kathy were united in marriage on June 12, 1965, and then moved to Hayti, S.D., where John worked as a teacher and coach for six years. They then moved to Britton, S.D., where they raised their family and he continued to teach/coach for 14 more years. John moved on to become an agent/financial planner for Lutheran Brotherhood/ Thrivent Financial until his retirement.
John was a decorated high school sports coach. In Hayti, his football team compiled an impressive record, including two undefeated seasons, and his basketball teams made two trips to the State B tournament. He was very proud of the little known fact that he (and a couple others) were the pioneers of 9-man football starting in South Dakota. In 1971, John became the head boys basketball coach at Britton High School and won the 1972 State B Championship in his first season there. In Britton, his team won 13 district championships, four regional championships and made three more state tournament appearances. He was the 1973 Coach of the Year in South Dakota, received a Ralph Ginn Award for Coaching Excellence in 1985, and was inducted into the South Dakota High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2014. John remained connected to sports as a volunteer coach, continued to mentor many of his former players, and deeply cherished the friendships he developed through his coaching years.
John was a devoted SDSU Jackrabbits fan. He sang in the choir at Britton Lutheran Church and was known to break out in song at the most unexpected of times. He and Kathy enjoyed various activities with their friends in Green Valley and back home in South Dakota. John’s occasional sarcasm and dry sense of humor will surely be missed at the neighborhood happy hours. He loved playing golf with his family and friends, and he was always working an angle to “get strokes” from his friends during their golf matches. He also enjoyed playing pickleball during the time he spent in Green Valley. John’s grandchildren were his pride and joy. He loved spending time with them, attending their activities and imparting them with valuable words of wisdom over the years. He especially loved to brag about them to anyone who was willing to listen.
John is survived by his loving wife, Kathy; his children, Steve (Ivory) Bruce of Marshall, Minn., and Jennifer (Chuck) Eldredge of Elk River, Minn.; and his grandchildren, Garrett (Rachel) and Peyton Bruce, and Charlie, Adam and Jaclyn Eldredge. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Evelyn, and his son, Christopher.
A celebration of John’s life will take place in South Dakota at a later date. Condolences can be sent to Kathy Bruce at 5865 S. Waynes Way, Green Valley, AZ 85622.