BRUCE JOSEPH MEYER Dec. 29, 1952 – Dec. 25, 2020
Bruce Joseph Meyer, 67, died at his home in Sahuarita, Arizona on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2020 from complications related to COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.)
Bruce was born Dec. 29, 1952 in Faulkton, South Dakota to Kenneth and Katherine (Gebhart) Meyer.
Growing up, Bruce was very curious about “how things work” and always kept the household lively, tinkering with bicycles, engines, magnets, optics, taxidermy, and no doubt several “hidden” projects.
He was very active in high school activities: band, chorus, dance band, science club, and played in the local Faulkton band, The Innerlight. This creative impulse stayed with him, playing trumpet through college and community orchestras, including the Los Alamos Community Winds, and church groups. Smart, creative, and extremely kind, he will be missed by many.
In 1975, Bruce graduated from the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology. He started his career at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, and from there went on to the Spirit Mound Power Station, Vermillion; Basin Electric Power Co-op Laramie River Station, Wheatland, Wyoming; and finally, his dream – working at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico as an electrical engineer on the linear accelerator used in studying atomic reactions.
Bruce was a loving father to his children and true friend to many. He loved visiting with people, and always remembered first and last names. Though his intelligence made him a classic “cone-head” among his LANL colleagues, he had a love for the silliness of Mel Brooks, SNL, and Jim Carrey movies. He could be counted on to videotape nearly every one of his children’s birthdays, games, plays, concerts, and flips on the trampoline. He loved collecting knives and gadgets, gazing through his telescope, and adding to his eclectic vinyl collection.
In his retirement, Bruce spent much of his time in his Arizona home tending to the desert land, cooking in his sun oven, and enjoying the sun. He also made numerous trips to tend to his childhood home in Faulkton, South Dakota, and enjoyed road trips to visit friends and family.
Bruce is survived by his son Patrick Meyer and daughter-in-law Michele of Scottsdale Arizona, daughter Leslie Epps and son-in-law James, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and daughter Holly Sheppard and son-in-law George of Mesa, Arizona. He is also survived by his siblings Elizabeth Meyer Perryman (Steve) of Clinton, Illinois, Peter Meyer (Barbara) of Bend, Oregon, and Mary Meyer of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and his granddaughters Addison, Amelia, Sarah and great-grand-children Alexander and Penelope, as well as two nephews and numerous cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents Kenneth (Kenny) and Katherine (Kitty) Meyer, and brother Henry Meyer.
A memorial service is being planned for 2021 in Faulkton, South Dakota.
