Bruce Wenzel Churchill, PhD

CHURCHILL, Bruce Wenzel, PhD
Kalamazoo Bruce Wenzel Churchill passed away suddenly on Sunday, February 3, 2008. Bruce was born in Belvidere, IL on September 21, 1921, one of two sons to Paul and Rose Churchill. Bruce met his wife, Virginia Vandeburg, in high school and planned to marry her after serving in Europe in World War II. On his return, Bruce and Virginia were married and moved to Madison, WI where Bruce earned a PhD in plant pharmacology. With their first child, they moved to Kalamazoo when Bruce was hired by the Upjohn Company as a microbiologist in 1949. He did research for the Company for 37 years. After his retirement, Bruce continued to work as a consultant with Traders Protein. Bruce was a member of Haven Reformed Church where he had been an elder and a kindergarten teacher, and was the organizer of Haven's monthly luncheons for seniors. For over 30 years, Bruce served as the President of the School Board - first at Gull Road Elementary and then at Comstock Public Schools. He was a PTA President, cub scout leader, coached his son's baseball team, was active in the Oshtemo Grange and the Elks Club of Kalamazoo. Bruce and Virginia cared for numerous foster babies after raising their own children. They fell in love with, and adopted, Polly. Bruce loved to take pictures, dance, grow roses, go fishing, play cards, and laugh. Even after suffering several heart attacks and finding he had Parkinson's and could no longer walk, Bruce continued to stay involved in the lives of his family who survive him: his wife of 62 years, Virginia; his son, Bruce L. Cindy Churchill; his daughters: Connie Blake Hagman, Carolyn Tom Fehsenfeld, and Polly Churchill; 8 grandchildren: Jennifer Mark Copland, Alan Debbie Fehsenfeld, Rebecca Ouding, Ben Fehsenfeld, Dana Fehsenfeld, Cristina, Tessa, and Leah Churchill; 2 great-grandchildren: Evan and Parker Frye; and one niece, Roberta Churchill. Bruce was proceeded in death by his parents, his brother, Bob, sister-in-law, Marjorie, and nephew Robert Churchill. Services will be held 11:00 Friday morning at Haven Reformed Church, 5350 N. 25th St., with the Rev. Roy Ackerman officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park. Friends may visit with the family from 4-7 pm on Thursday at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 South 9th St. The family requests memorial contributions be directed to the American Heart Association.