Bruce Allen Kooienga of Wayland died Saturday, Dec. 4.
Bruce, along with his wife Carol, raised three boys on a dairy farm. Not only did he farm, he was also a full-time mason. Bruce went on to excavating and delivering aggregate and starting a small garden center. His coffee shop friends would come to call it Bruce’s Bark Boutique.
In the end, he spent his remaining working years driving truck over the road, which brought new adventures and challenges.
Bruce always enjoyed hunting, and his fondest memories were from his various hunting trips with friends and family, from pheasant hunting in South Dakota to deer hunting in the U.P., or even closer to home in Freeport.
In later years he took great pleasure in spending time with his seven grandchildren. Bruce spent time doing things he normally wouldn’t like doing, such as taking them fishing, playing with dolls, and giving tractor rides.
He is survived by his former wife and friend, Carol Kooienga; children Eric and Michelle Kooienga, Curt and Ashley Kooienga, and Joel and Ashley Kooienga; grandchildren Kadence, Alyssa, Colton, Mason, Trent, Wyatt, and Wade.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, at Kubiak-Cook Funeral Services – Wayland Chapel, 312 N. Main St. A graveside service will occur at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 10, at Hooker Cemetery, 3947 Kalamazoo Drive, Wayland.
