Bruce Thompson, Died September 26, 2017

Bruce Thompson

Died Sept. 26, 2017

BINGHAM TOWNSHIP – Cecil Bruce Thompson, 62, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, at home surrounded by his loving family.

Bruce was born Aug. 21, 1955, in Pineville, Kentucky the son of Cecil and Geneva (Wilder) Thompson.  On June 13, 1985, in Honolulu, Hawaii, he married his best friend, Sally (Martin) Thompson.

Bruce was a man of character, full of love for his family and an appreciation for facts, knowledge and quality.  He served his nation in the U.S. Army and then spent his professional life in the telecommunications industry.  Bruce worked for Michigan Bell, Lucent Technologies, and AT&T and served in twenty-one different countries during his career.

His mind was a vault of facts and information; he could be anyone’s life line for Trivial Pursuit.  Sally and Bruce took the kids on numerous extended family vacations.  He would research the vacation areas and ensure his family saw all the things there were to see, no matter how tired they were.  Bruce would say to the kids, “Vacation is not for wussies!”

Bruce’s love of knowledge and facts extended into his purchasing habits.  Every purchase they made might be the “last one they ever buy.”  He would research and read every Consumer’s Report on every purchase, sometimes for weeks, before buying that item.  Only then could he be assured it was the best.  He wouldn’t buy something just to buy it.  Once Bruce bought an item, it would be used until it fell apart.  Then he would fix it and use it until it couldn’t be used any more.

Bruce shared his love of music and books with his family and taught his kids and grandkids to appreciate everything from Johnny Cash and Tupac to James Michener and JRR Tolkien.  He loved Boone’s Prime Time Pub and their legendary burgers – it was his favorite place for a date with Sally and to take his kids and grandkids.  Bruce claimed he did not like dogs until he was talked into getting one – and decided they were better than kids!  His puppies, PD, KT, Kimmi, PJ and Kodi, were his pride and joy.

Bruce is survived by his loving wife of thirty-two years, Sally; his children, Dawn (Tim) Coon, Joshua (Beth) Gottschall, Steffanie (Kenny) Childers, Kristoffer (Corie) Thompson; his siblings, Phillip (Carol) Thompson, Jeanne (Norbert) Walther, Denise (Gary) Gildner; his grandchildren, Christopher, Betsey and Travis Coon, Allie and Megan Gottschall, Makenna and Charlie Childers, Karson, Hailey and Landin Thompson, and great grandson Camden.

The family will greet friends from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30 with a sharing of memories at 4 pm. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.

Memorials may be directed to the USO, P.O. Box 96860, Washington D.C., 20077-7677

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