Bruce J. Olds, 89, of Battle Creek, formerly of Coldwater Lake, passed away Saturday, August 14, 2021 at his home under hospice care.
A funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 19, 2021 at Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation in Union City. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Union City.
Visitation will be held just before the funeral, beginning at 12:00 Noon, also at Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation in Union City Thursday.
Bruce was born on December 14, 1931 in Union Township, Michigan, above the Hodunk Store, to Harvey J. and Mildred I. (Fry) Olds. As a young man, he helped out on the family farm and graduated from Union City High School in 1950, then went on to Michigan State University, where he took the agricultural short course.
He served honorably in the U.S. Army from 1952-1954, stationed in Japan during the Korean War. He attained the rank of Corporal at the time of his discharge. Shortly after returning from the military, he married Barbara Dean Stanton on May 19, 1956 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Battle Creek.
Bruce and Barbara lived in Battle Creek for 37 years. Bruce worked at Ralston-Purina for 38 years and was known by his friends there as “Bruce the Moose,” until retiring in 1989. In retirement, he and his wife divided their time between living at their Coldwater Lake home for seven months and wintering in Bradenton, FL the other five months of the year. While living in Coldwater, Bruce and his wife were active in Peace Lutheran Church in Fremont, Indiana. The couple had moved back to Battle Creek in the last few years. Bruce was a member of the American Legion in Coldwater.
Following retirement, Bruce worked for 20 years on his son Jim’s farm and in Jim’s heating shop. Bruce was a big Michigan State fan. He loved to play dominos and cards and his granddaughters loved to play cards with him. He was very generous and will be remembered as a loving father, husband, grandfather and father-in-law.
Mr. Olds is survived by his children: Katherine (Rick) Mulder of Three Rivers, MaryAnn (Ed) Wunderlin of Vicksburg, James “Jim” (Cindie) Olds of Ceresco and Kenneth (Gracie) Olds of Ft. Myers, FL; his grandchildren Dan (Becky) Lux, Ashley (Jeremy) Kline, Matthew (Cami) Dake, Jessica (Andrew Lim) Olds and Amanda (James) Jordan; his six great-grandchildren; his twin sister, Barbara Jean Johnson of Battle Creek.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Barbara Olds (September of 2020); his sister, Betty Manchester; and brother, Bob Olds.
Memorial contributions may be directed to your local hospice.
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