Obituary of Mark E. Bruce
Stevens Point Daily Journal, Wednesday, Oct 4, 1939 Eulogy
MARK E. BRUCE
Genial, kindly Mark E. Bruce, one of central Wisconsin's sturdy pioneers, has passed on.
Mr. Bruce lived to the ripe age of 81, but even more to the point is the fact that he enjoyed every
minute of his alloted span.
Mr. Bruce was a man who never seemed to grow old. He liked to associate with young people, but,
more than that, he retained the spirit of youth down to the last.
Looking back through the years, wo do not remember a time when Mark Bruce wasn't filled with enthusiasm,
good nature and a will to serve. He was an active participant in so many civic affairs that it would be impossible
to recount more than a small portion of them.
In his declining years Mr. Bruce, one of the few surviving rivermen of the Pinery days, was often
called upon to relate experiences of that backwoods era. He had a speaking style all his own, one of simple
informality, and his talks were always interesting and enjoyable.
With Mr. Bruce's passing Stevens Point loses one of its most public spirited citizens.
Stevens Point Daily Journal, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 1939
Funeral of Mr. Bruce
Funeral services for Mark E. Bruce, 81, prominent Stevens Point resident for many years, who died
Sunday morning, were held Tuesday afternoon. The Boston funeral home was filled for the services at 2 o'clock
and Rev. Robert Gray officiated.
Members of the Odd Fellow lodge conducted the services at the grave in Forest cemetery and attended
the funeral in a body. A representative group of the Masonic bodies was present and members of the Stevens
Point water commission, of which Mr. Bruce was president, and employes of the city water department attended the
services in a group. The city water office was closed during the time of the funeral.
"No Night There," "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" and "Nearer,
Still Nearer," were sung by Mrs. A. A.Hetzel and Mrs. Harry Ewald. They were accompanied by Mrs. Martin
Booth.
The pallbearers were Otto Reinke, Ray Mason, Harley Ameigh, Claude Gustin, William Ruff, Sr., and
Carl Gunderson.
Relatives and friends from out of town who were here for the funeral included his two sons and daughtes-in-law
and their children, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bruce and children, Kathryn and Bobby, of Blanchardville, and Mr. and Mrs.
Howard Bruce and son, Mark, of Evansville, his daughter, Mrs. Kathryn Missner of Fifield, and Mr.. and Mrs. John
Bruce and family of Phillips, Eugene Bruce and son, Paul, of Ashland, Mrs. Carl Nelson of Medford, Mr. and Mrs.
Herman Achterberg and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Achterberg of Schofield and Irving Achterberg of Wausau.
The Stevens Point Daily Journal , Monday, October 2, 1939
DEATH CLAIMS MARK E. BRUCE, LOCAL PIONEER
Services on Tuesday for Former Theatre and Hotel Man
Mark E. Bruce, 81, one of Portage county's most widely known citizens, a veteran hotel and theatre
man and a member of the Stevens Point water commission since its organization, died Sunday morning at 3:50 o'clock
at St. Michael's hospital.
Mr. Bruce had been active in his various interests until he entered the hospital on August 17
when his condition was regarded as serious. His condition was critical the last few days.
Mr. Bruce was born at South Colton, New York, on November 20, 1857, a son of Nathaniel P and Rhoda
Bourne Bruce. His mother died when he was only two years old and four years later, in June 1863, his father
came west to Dodge county. His six children followed him in November of that year and the family located
at Atwater. Mark Bruce attended rural school until he was 13 years old after which he worked on farms in
Dodge county and later in Trempealeau county.
Worked in Woods
After a few years as a farm hand, Mr. Bruce went to northern Wisconsin and worked in the woods.
It was during his residence at Merrill, on April 22, 1885, that his marriage to Marguerite LaMieux took place.
The couple were married in Stevens Point at the Methodist parsonage by Rev. R. W. Bosworth. They resided
at Merrill and three years later came to Portage county and settled on a farm in what was then the town of Eau
Pleine but is now the town of Dewey. After living there seven years the family moved to Stevens Point, in
January, 1895. They took over the management of the Bruce hotel on South Third street in December, 1898,
and Br. Bruce, who acquird the property, continued to operate the hotel until 1920. At that time he leased
it and moved his family to a home which he built two doors from the hotel.
Pioneer Theatre Man
A pioneer in the theatre business in Stevens Point, Mr. Bruce opened what was known as the Gem theatre
in the Odd Fellows building on North Third street in December, 1912. A year later he built a building to
house the theatre at the present location of the G. A. Gullikson garage. He continued operating under the
name of the Gem until he remodeled the building and changed the name to the Strand. In the meantime he leased
the Opera House, the present Fog theatre, which he opened in November, 1920. He continued to operate the
Strand until 1921 and the Opera House until 1925. He closed his theatre career at that time, selling his
theatre interests to John Adler of Marshfield.
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce re-entered the hotel business in 1933 and continued to operate the Bruce hotel
until the death of Mrs. Bruce on March 23, 1937. Mr Bruce then leased the hotel to Mrs. Vernon Soule, who
has since operated it.
Commission President
A member of the board of water commissioners since it was formed in 1922, Mr. Bruce served as
its vice president for a time and in 1934 became its president, which office he held until his death. He
was an active member of the commission and took a prominent part in planning construction of the water department's
new office building.
Mr. Bruce formerly held membership in various lodges and organizations, but in later years confined
his activities to the Odd Fellow and Masonic orders. He held the various offices in the Odd Fellows lodge,
Stevens Point Lodge No. 92; and conducted the organization's funeral rites for many years. Of the Masonic
bodies he held membership in Evergreen lodge, Forest chapter and Crusade commandery.
In Many Activities
An active member of the old Settlers association which was organized in September, 1892, Mr. Bruce
was elected as its secretary and treasurer in 1915, later serving as its president. He was a member and treasurer
of the board of education for several years, served as secretary of the former Stevens Point Fair association for
a year and was an active member of the fair board during the years of its existance. He served Portage county
as its humane officer for many years and was Red Cross chairman during the World war. He was a former member
of the Rotary club and was a former charter member of the Stevens Point Beavers. He also held membership
in the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
Surviving are three children, Howard of Evansville, Mrs. Kathryn Missner of Fifield and Walter of
Blanchardville; three grandchildren, Mark H. Bruce of Evansville, a son of Howard, and Kathry and Bobby,
children of Walter, and a brother, George Bruce of Eureka, California.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Boston funeral home. Rev.
Robert Gray will officiate. Burial will follow in the Forest cemetery where Odd Fellow rites will be conducted.
The body is at the funeral home.
Friend of Young, Old
Mr. Bruce often remarked that he kept young by associating with young people. He took pleasure
in their activities and maintained a keen interest in local athletic contests, which he attended. He was
usually in the bleachers at baseball and softball games. Children of his neighborhood found a true friend
in Mr. Bruce, who enjoyed taking them during the summer bathing seasons to Iverson park, which was created under
supervision of the water commission of which he was so long an active member.
Mr. Bruce enjoyed a wide acquaintance among the older residents of the city and county. He like
to relate stories of the hardships and adventures of the pinery days. He had been looking forward to participating
in the Stevens Point centennial celebration this month.
Note: Submitted by Janet Bruce Nelson. She states: Mark Bruce died on Sunday, Oct. 1, 1939.
The Stevens Point Daily Journal ran a front page story, with picture, about him on the following day, Monday, Oct.
2, 1939; On Wednesday, the day after his funeral, they ran a Eulogy about him, as well as an Obituary. Stevens Point Daily Journal Oct 4, 1939
OBITUARY
Martin Mullranin
Martin Mullranin, 72, a former resident of Stevens Point for many years, died on Sunday morning,
September 24, at 7:30 o clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Leo Walker, at Beloit, after an illness of
four months.
Stevens Point relatives who attended the funeral last Wednesday at Beloit were Clifton Cook, a nephew,
who was accompanied to Beloit by R.R. Rowe and L.C. Rowe, brothers-in-law of Mr. Mullranin, and Mrs. R. R. Rowe.
Mr. Mullranin was born on November 22, 1866, at Waukau, Winnebago county. He spent most of his
life in Menasha, Stevens Point and Beloit. During his residence in Stevens Point he was located on Superior
avenue, where he owned a home at the time of his death. With the exception of the past winter, which he spent
at his home here, Mr. Mullranin had made his home with his children in Beloit most of the time since the death
of his wife, the former Anna rowe, in 1907. He was a molder by trade.
Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. A. G. Sauers, Mrs. A. G. McCord, Mrs. Leo Walker and Mrs. Leo Hauser,
all of Beloit, a son, Edward of Beloit, three sisters, Mrs. Mary Aiken and Mrs. George Powers of Menasha and Mrs.
Nellie Marks of Waukegan, and 10 grandchildren.
Transcribed by Janet Bruce Nelson
Obituary from Stevens Point Journal, Page 2, Friday, April 30, 1982:
Carl W. Menzel
Carl W. Menzel, 87, 2617 Main St., died unexpectedly Thursday morning at his home.
Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the Boston Funeral Home, with the Rev. John Munson of Frame
Memorial United Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in Nola Cemetery, Park Falls.
Friends may call after 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. An Eastern Star ritual will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday
followed by a Masonic Lodge ritural at 7:30 p.m. Memorials are established in his name for Eastern Star and
White Shrine.
Mr. Menzel was born March 17, 1895, in Stevens Point, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Augustine Menzel.
He attended Stevens Point High School and Stevens Point Normal School. He joined the Soo Line Railroad at
age 16 and retired as a locomotive engineer after 49 years in service.
He was married to Alice Bruce in 1916 in Medford. They lived in Stevens Point until 1922, then
moved to Park Falls. They returned to Stevens Point in 1938.
Mr. Menzel is survived by his wife; three sons, Harold, Green Valley, Ariz., Bruce, Greendale
and Gerald, Buffalo Grove, Ill.; three daughters, Mrs. Jane Burgess, Waukesha, Mrs. John (Betty) Alleman,
Amherst, and Mrs. Vera Eichstaedt, Amherst; 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded
in death by one daughter, four brothers and one sister.
He was a member of the Frame Memorial United Presbyterian Church, Evergreen Lodge 93 F&AM, Forest
Chapter 34 RAM, Crusade Commandry 17 Knights Templar, Arbutus Chapter 52 OES of which he was a past patron, and
Galilee Shrine 22, White Shrine of Jerusalem of whcih he was a past WOS. He was also a member of ZOR Shrine
of Madison and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
Transcribed by Janet Bruce Nelson
