Bruce Nichols

Bruce Nichols was a good man, who often lived through hard times, yet was never hardened by the hurdles he faced in life. He was a courageous veteran, who served his country proudly, yet his courage extended far beyond the battlefields. Bruce was a loving husband and companion, beloved brother and a faithful friend, who taught us that while there are many things in life worth fighting for, there are so many more things worth living for. Bruces story began on a hot summer day in 1943, in the rolling farmland near the towering, sandy expanse of Michigans Sleeping Bear Dunes. Those were such turbulent times around the globe, as American men and women battled so bravely in World War II. That July, Allied forces began their invasion of Axis-controlled Europe, marking the beginning of the end of the war. On July 20, 1943, Glenn and Tena (Plowman) Nichols celebrated the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Bruce. Bruce joined his sister Virginia and brother Robert on the familys farm and orchard in the beautiful part of Northern Michigan. When he wasnt helping his father with the cows or in the orchard, Bruce was taking advantage of Americas Great Outdoors. He became an avid deer hunter alongside his father, and loved to fish and hunt at every opportunity. Bruce spent the wintertime trapping his game, and the summertime was spent swimming in the beautiful Glen Lake near his home. When Bruce was just 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, after the first shots were fired in the Vietnam War overseas. Being the skilled hunter and marksman he was, Bruce was an excellent soldier, and served his country proudly for 14 years. He was a member of the Armys elite Black Horse Division, in the 11th Armored Calvary, a tank battalion which saw its share of action overseas. The Black Horse Division has a proud history in the military, activated in times of need under the slogan, Together Then, Together Again. Bruces military career levied a heavy toll on him, however, both physically and mentally. He suffered through many difficult experiences in Vietnam, experiences that would shake him from his sleep with nightmares later in life, yet he remained a good man, and a good soldier. He always said he would have put in a full 20 years, were he not disabled by his battles. His time in the service wasnt without its benefits, however. While serving for a time in the Netherlands, Bruce met a wonderful young Dutch woman named Rosa, and quickly fell in love. They were soon married, though sadly, Rosa died at a very young age. When he was discharged from the service, Bruce returned home to Michigan, to Grand Rapids, but quickly moved to Texas, where he found work at a nuclear power plant. He was a hardworking man, very disciplined from his years in the service, and often worked seven days a week, with 12-14 hours every day. Eventually, his heavy workload at the plant took its toll on him, so a few years later, he packed up and moved to Mountain Home, Arkansas, nestled in the verdant green Ozark Mountains. There he went to work for a mobile home manufacturer, doing some rebuilding and deliveries. Eventually, Bruce retired and left Mountain Home, moving to the sunny shores of Florida. There he met a wonderful woman named Addie, and the two formed a beautiful relationship for more than a decade. Addie sadly died in 2005, which affected Bruce deeply, but she meant so much to him in their time together. As the years went on, Bruces disabilities had worsened, and after Addies death, he moved back to Muskegon, Michigan, to be closer to his brother Robert and sister-in-law Ruby. Bruce often stayed with them, though he bought his own house as a home for his beloved canine companions, Little Boy, Julie and Jingee, who were like the children he never had. After so many years away, Bruce loved being close to his family once again, and enjoyed inviting Robert and Ruby and his cousins over (though they had to do the cooking when they got there). Bruce loved to entertain, and was a very social fellow, and especially looked forward to church on Sunday, for the service and the social aspect. Bruce had a tremendous sense of humor, and loved to tease and kid, always a well-liked entertainer. Despite the hardships he faced in life, they never hardened him. Bruce remained a kind, compassionate and sensitive man, unchanged from the boy he was running through the Northern Michigan woods. He loved his Northern Pike for dinner, and before his disability worsened, he loved to walk in those woods and to travel. And he still loved his family and friends most of all. On July 20, 2007, Bruce celebrated his 64th birthday in grand style, as his brother and cousins took him fishing on the Muskegon Channel, followed by a birthday party for the family at Bronson Park. It was a very special time for all of them, one of the brightest moments Bruce had since moving back to Michigan, which held their highs and lows for him. Following the compassionate care from his family closest to him, Bruce sadly died two days after entering into the Poppen Hospice Home, on August 6, 2007, at the age of 64. Bruce was a man who often lived through hard times, yet was never hardened by them, a tough man with a soft heart, a heart he shared with all those around him. Bruce was a courageous veteran, who served his country so proudly. Yet his courage didnt end with his service, and lives on today in all who knew him. He will be greatly missed. Bruce is survived by his sister, Virginia Milner of Fremont; brother, Robert V. (Ruby) Nichols of Muskegon; special niece, Shelly Shook; cousin, Shirley Pennell of Muskegon; 3 companion dogs, Little Boy, Julie & Jingee. He was preceded in death by his wife Rosa and special friend, Addie. Services are scheduled for Wednesday, August 8, 2007, 1:00 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon with Fr. Michael Olson officiating. Interment at Egelston Township Cemetery, with a Veteran's service under auspices of Derezinski V.F.W. Post # 7729. Memorial donations may be made to Harbor Hospice. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or sign the online guest book.