William Edward "Will" Bruce (1857-1949)

William E. Bruce passed away suddenly Friday morning at his home, [on] Main and Clark streets, after several days of illness. On Thursday, the day before his death, he made his daily trip to the farm west of town. Had he lived until June 2 he would have been 92 years of age. Born at Benton, Lake County, near Waukegan, Illinois, he was one of six children of the Rev. and Mrs. John Bruce. When a child he moved with his parents to Merrillville and later to Lowell, where he has since lived. Survivors are his wife; four sons, Bert, John, Gerald and Dael; two daughters, Carrie Lomax of Evansville and Mabelle Phillips of Momence, Illinois; 12 grandchildren and several great grandchildren. Services were held at Weaver's funeral home Sunday afternoon . . .

WM. BRUCE, SECOND OLDEST LOWELL RESIDENT, DIES

William Bruce, 91, Lowell's second oldest citizen and a highly respected member of this community where he had lived nearly his entire lifetime, passed away suddenly at his home on Clark street last Friday morning. He enjoyed unusually good health right up to the day of his death, making almost daily trips to his farm in West Creek Township. He had moved to town in 1939 following his retirement from active farming.

Surviving in addition to his wife are six children: Carrie Lomax of Evansville, Ind.; Bert, John and Garold of Lowell; Mabel Phillips of Momence, Ill.; and Dael of Gary.

Funeral services were held Sunday at Weaver funeral home, Rev. Dean M. Hance officiating. Internment was made in Lowell cemetery.

William Edward Bruce was born at Benton, Lake Co., Ill., and June 2nd 1857. The son of Elder John and Caroline Bruce, one of six children, all having preceded him in death except a sister, Mrs. Annie Phillips of Boise, Idaho.

On Feb. 7, 1894,* he was married to Edna Lu Emma Nichols and to this union two children was born, Carrie Lomax of Evansville, Indiana and Bert of Lowell.

His wife, Edna passed away in December 1893.*

On June 2nd, 1895, he was untied in marriage to Bertha Rudolph and to this union four children were born, Mabelle Phillips of Momence, Ill., John and Garold of Lowell and Dael of Gary, Indiana.

His entire life was spent on the farms in West Creek Township. He moved into Lowell in March 1939, but he made almost daily visits to the farm to the end of his life.

He was a director of the North Hayden elevator for many years after it was first organized and has shown keen interest in its progress even after retiring from the farm.

He passed away quietly at his home on May 6th at the age of 91 years, 11 mos., 4 days.

He was a good neighbor and devoted husband and father, and he leaves to mourn his passing his wife, six children, 12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren besides many other relatives and friends.

* NOTE -- This article lists the marriage date of William E. Bruce and Edna Lu Emma Nichols as Feb. 7, 1894, but it lists Edna Bruce's death as Dec. 1893. Obviously, at least one of these dates is wrong.