Obituary of Joyce Joan Bruce

Joyce Joan Bruce, 85, of Centennial, Colorado, passed away with her family at her side on Tuesday, September 13, 2016, due to post surgery complications. She is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Robert Eugene Bruce, her parents, Rose (Staley) and Norman Smithback, and her siblings, Bill and Judy Smithback. She is survived by her sons, Clayton and Mark Bruce, and her daughter, Robin Ellis, and her three grandchildren, Jeremy, Lisa, and Crystal Bruce, all residents of Colorado. Joan, pronounced “Joanne”, was born on March 5, 1931, in Wellington, Kansas. She enjoyed a wonderful childhood, living in the same home on half an acre of land with her parents, siblings, and her grandpa, George Staley. With her grandpa being the patriarch of a large family, their home became the revolving door to many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. It was this beautiful beginning that instilled in Joan the love of family. She married the love of her life, Bob Bruce, on July 16, 1950 in Wellington, Kansas. They had a marriage that many looked upon with great admiration as it was filled with absolute devotion and love for each other, as well as a strong Christian faith for the 56 years they were together. Joan’s employment history is as follows. She started out working for the phone company in her hometown, then she followed her husband to California to work in a bank while he was in boot camp, prior to being shipped to Korea. Living in various cities in Kansas and eventually moving to Colorado in 1966, she stayed home raising her three children, loving being a mom. She didn’t start working until her youngest was in the fifth grade, and then only part time, working at Sears in the catalog department. She eventually worked full time, becoming the Sears teletype operator and later,when the department was eliminated, she was a secretary for a Sears executive. When the corporate offices were moved out of state, she was eventually hired by two separate individuals to be their secretaries several days a week. Joan’s favorite job in her whole work life, though, was being a church secretary, at her church of faith, The Littleton Church of Christ, which she did for approximately 10 years up until the age of almost 73! Joan had many interests. She was an avid reader and enjoyed sewing, needlepoint, travel, computers, playing games, singing, and spending time with family and friends. In the last 10 years of Joan’s life her main interest was spending time with her family. She absolutely loved being with “her people.” “Her people” could include anyone she personally knew. Her sweet kind words, “Do you know how much I love you?”will be greatly missed by her children and grandchildren. Joyce Joan Bruce is synonymous with the word love. She will be remembered as a loyal sincere thoughtful friend and a loving kind wife, mom, sister, aunt, and grandma. Memorial Services will be held at Littleton Church of Christ on Saturday, October 1, 2016, 3:00 p.m. A Reception including a meal at the Church will follow the Service. Final Resting Place will be with her husband at Chapel Hill Cemetery. Service Information