Allene Bruce

Lois Allene Bruce, 90, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, of St. Joseph, passed away Monday, July 16, 2007, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. A Celebration of Life service will be held 11:00A.M., Friday, July 20, 2007, at Peace Lutheran Church, 3590 Lincoln Ave., St. Joseph, with Rev. Paul Koehneke and Rev. Franz Brandenburg officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery. Visitation is from 5:00 – 8:00P.M., Thursday, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorial donations may be made in Allene’s name to Peace Lutheran Church. Those wishing to sign the guestbook, or share a memory online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Allene was the first of six children born to William and Mattie (Latimer) Ledford. She was born on June 28, 1917, in Steele, Missouri. She married Creston Bruce in Caruthersville, Missouri on August 12, 1938. Allene worked at the Herald Palladium as Proof-reader until her retirement in 1975. Allene found great joy with her family, especially her grandchildren. She was a super house-keeper, enjoyed flowers, gardening, current events, reading, and cooking. Allene is survived by her husband Creston Bruce of St. Joseph; daughter Gwen (Les) McLean, of South Bend, IN; son Gary (Gail) Bruce of St. Joseph; four grandchildren, Christine (Mark) Schlutt, Hailey Bruce, Erin Bruce, Joseph (Janet) Rubleske; two great-grandchildren, Greta Rubleske and James Creston Rubleske; and a sister, Lucille Denton of Traverse City, MI. She was preceded in death by four brothers and sisters.