The Stenzel Family

BRUCE MYERS, 78, of Buffalo Center died Sunday, August 17, 2014 at his home with his wife and other family members at his side. Funeral services will be 10:30 am,Saturday, August 23, 2014 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Buffalo Center. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery, Buffalo Center with Military Honors by the American Legion Post 21 Visitation will be Friday from 5:00 to 7:30 pm at the church and 1 hour before the service on Saturday. Bruce was born November 20, 1935 on a farm near Dexter, Iowa. At the age of three Bruce and his family moved to a farm east of Boonville, Iowa. Bruce began his education in a one room school house in Booneville. In the third grade he joined his brothers and sisters in the Valley school in West Des Moines. It was there at Valley that Bruce got a start in the game of football that he dearly loved. In March 1951 the William Myers family relocated to a farm they purchased just west of Buffalo Center. Bruce continued his football career in Buffalo Center being 1st team fullback and captain of the varsity team in his junior and senior years as well as being named to a All State Team. Bruce attended college at Iowa State College (University) in agricultural studies and he played football during his freshman year. Bruce met Shirley Stenzel of Buffalo Center in the fall of 1957. Shirley was a new teacher at the Buffalo Center School and Bruce “discovered” Shirley from her picture in the paper naming the newly hired teacher for that year. They dated a few times during Christmas break that year and continued to correspond. Bruce entered the Army reserve in Aug of 1958 for a 6 month training program. Upon Bruce’s return from the Army he and Shirley were engaged. On August 9, 1959 Bruce and Shirley were married and enjoyed 55 years of marriage together. Bruce and Shirley began their life long farming career shortly after they were married. Bruce was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Buffalo Center and served on the church board a number of times and as chairmen on 4 occasions as well as serving on a number of committees. Bruce was elected to the Buffalo Center school board in 1983 and served on the board for 10 years. During his tenure on the board he was instrumental in the creation of the North Iowa School district maintaining quality schools located in Buffalo Center for decades to come. Bruce was a family man who enjoyed spending time with his sons, his daughter’s in law and all of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Spending time with his family vacationing in Okoboji was always a highlight of the summer. In this world Bruce loved God and his family, but Iowa State Cyclone sports were a close third. Bruce enjoyed gardening and he liked to share produce from his garden with family and friends. For a number of years Bruce provided sweet corn for the volunteer fire and ambulance department’s annual appreciation dinner. Bruce is survived by his wife Shirley, his sons Douglas and wife Kimmerly of Memphis, TN Jeffrey and wife Jenny of Nampa, ID and Michael and wife Janel of Underwood, IA. Grandchildren Elisabeth, Daniel, Ashley, Jonathon, Karissa, Joshua, Mariah, Caleb, Elijah, Hope Grace, Jordan, Mariah Michelle, Dominick, Matthew, Gabby, Cecilia, Vivian, Charlie, 8 great grandchildren and his sister Lanelle of Colorado Springs. Proceeded in death by his parents Lela and William Myers and his brothers Bill Myers and Jim Myers. Bruce as a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend you will be dearly missed. "When we've been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We've no less days to sing God's praise, Than when we first begun."