Bruce David Glover

GLOVER, Bruce D
Portage, MI

Bruce David Glover of Portage, Michigan passed away after a short illness on September 8th while in hospice care at his home in Story Point Senior Living. He was 93.

Bruce was born to Harry Glover and Sarah "Lilla" (Watt) Glover on February 17, 1925 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit Michigan. He spent his young life in Hazel Park, Michigan after his parents decided they would not be able to sleep outdoors with an infant in Cass Park on hot summer nights, as they had been doing before his birth. It was in Hazel Park that Bruce developed his love of sports, many pictures show a young Bruce in knickers holding a ball. Around third and fourth grade, Bruce could name the starting lineup of every team in the American and National baseball leagues — making him a hit at the local ball field.

Bruce graduated from Hazel Park High School in June 1943. Bruce was President of the Honor Society, President of the HI-Y Club (a Christian men's organization), and sports editor of the school paper and Hazel Park "Palladium" newspaper. He participated in baseball and basketball, and one year of cross country as he had to be on the cross-country team to play basketball his senior year, it wasn't his favorite sport.

The day after his high school graduation, Bruce was inducted into the United States Army. Training took place at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, and Camp Maxey in Paris, Texas. He was sent to the European Front during World War II as a part of Infantry Company D, 7th Battalion, 2nd Regiment and was in the Battle of the Bulge, where he got trench foot. Bruce spent time recuperating in Birmingham, England, and upon recovering, entered officer's training at Fontainebleau, France. He earned the rank of second lieutenant and graduated from officer's training just days before the end of the war in Europe. Returning state side, Bruce started what became an almost fifty-year long coaching career when he was stationed at Fort McClellan in Alabama and coached the regiment's recreation team, which went on to win the regimental tournament. He returned to Hazel Park in May 1946.

Bruce graduated from Kalamazoo, Michigan's Western Michigan College of Education in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and minors in Biology and History. Bruce began a forty-one-year career in teaching with his first job at Norman Dickson Schools, in Brethren, Michigan. It was here that Bruce met the love of his life, Audrey Jane Fredrick, daughter of Otto August Fredrick and Daisy Ellen Graf Fredrick. They were married May 31, 1952 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Onekama, MI and celebrated 66 years of marriage. Teaching jobs led Bruce and Audrey to Kingsley, MI, Deckerville, MI, Harbor Beach, MI, and Denton, TX.

Bruce retired in 1991 and returned to Kalamazoo, MI to spend the next 27 years with golf as his primary interest. After only three short months of retirement, Bruce decided to apply for a golf coaching job at Hackett Catholic Central High School in Kalamazoo, MI. He coached golf for four years and won his first individual coaching awards: Regional Class C Golf Coach of the Year and State Class C State Coach of the Year, by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association. One other award cherished by Bruce was his induction into the Michigan High School Coaches Association (MHSCA — of which he was a charter member), Hall of Fame housed at Central Michigan University, in Mount Pleasant, MI.

Bruce and Audrey had four children: daughters Linda Kaye, Brenda Rae, Nancy Louise, and son, Neil David. Bruce taught his children by his example of honesty and fair play, and his philosophy to do your best in whatever you choose. He took extreme pride in his eight grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them, especially when it involved sports. His youngest grandchildren, Caitlyn Alexis and Alexander 'Alex' David Glover will forever remember him as Grandpa Mook, after a character in a story he had read them. The greatest gift Bruce gave his family was his 133-page autobiography, "Life as I've Known It."

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Glover and Sarah "Lilla" (Watt) Glover Bell, his half-brother, Francis Henry Glover, and close friend and golf buddy, Arno Yurk. He is survived by his wife, Audrey Jane (Fredrick) Glover, daughters Linda Kaye (Jeff) Elson of Austin, Texas, Brenda Rae (Kirk) Leyndyke of Battle Creek, Michigan; Nancy Louise (Scott) Glover-Berry of Nine Mile Falls, Washington; and son Neil David (Amanda) Glover of Allen, Texas; eight grandchildren — Kirsten Rae (Leyndyke) Agnello-Dean (Chase) of Chicago, Illinois; Jessica Renee (Elson) Biagini (David) of Dripping Springs, Texas; Travis Kirk Leyndyke (Alayna DeSalvo-Leyndyke) of Houston, Texas; Ryan Christopher Elson (Jessica Hamrick) of Plano, Texas; Brianna Nicole (Berry) Chepin of Spokane, Washington; Colton Robert Berry of Nine Mile Falls, Washington; Caitlyn Alexis Glover of Allen, Texas, and Alexander David Glover of Allen, Texas; and five great grandchildren — Nicolas "Nico" Arnold Biagini, Natalie Frances Biagini, Jordan Elson, Hunter J. Scott Chepin, and Layla Jade Chepin. He is also survived by nephew, Stuart Glover (Gabrielle) of Monticello, Wisconsin, and friend Dr. Edward Hartmann, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, as well as, many family members on his wife's side of the family.

Visitation will be held from 3p.m. to 7p.m. on Wednesday, September 12th at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 E. Centre Avenue. Services will be held 10a.m. on Thursday, September 13th at St. Michael Lutheran Church, 7211 Oakland Drive, with Rev. Dr. Paul R. Naumann officiating. Graveside services with military honors will follow in Fort Custer National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial be directed to St. Michael Lutheran School or to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. Please visit Bruce's webpage for directions, online guest book or to leave a condolence. www.langelands.com