April 5, 2020 – Town of Trenton, WI – Bruce Nicholas Kremer, 63, was quietly called to Heaven on Monday, March 30, 2020 at his home in the Town of Trenton, WI.
Bruce was born June 2, 1956 in West Bend, WI; cherished son of Merlin and Darlene (Lahr) Kremer. He grew up on Skyline Drive riding mini bikes and motorcycles, shooting BB guns, swimming, fishing, kicking butt in the Cub Scout pinewood derby, being a big brother, and doing everything a growing boy should do. He attended St. Mary’s grade school and graduated from West Bend East High School in 1974.
In 1976, Bruce joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve completing his basic training in San Diego, CA. Bruce graduated with a marksmanship recognition and had the added distinction and privilege of carrying the American Flag during the graduation ceremony.
He married Julie Ciriacks on November 4, 1977. They were blessed with two sons, Bryan and Ben. In 1979, Bruce moved the family to Minnesota. For a while they lived in a rustic log cabin, eventually settling on a small 10-acre farm in Welsh, MN.
The perfect home to raise his boys, here they built a first-class motocross track with lots of daring jumps and woops to play on and crash on. Kremer Fest was an annual event for racing old cars demolition style and then lining up the destroyed cars to jump over with their cycles. All this family fun honed their skills for many years of traveling far and wide to moto-cross competitions. Bruce was proud of the countless trophies his sons brought home.
It was in Minnesota where he started Fleet Dispatch. For nearly 40 years, he was in the trucking dispatch business and made many friends out of customers who not only appreciated his efficient ability to get loads shipped, but more importantly, relished his friendly, easy going ways, sense of humor, and gift of gab. Bruce moved back to his home roots of Washington County, settling in the Town of Trenton in 2008. He was able to work out of his home and continued to take care of his valued Minnesota customers.
Every spring, he took great pride in planting tomatoes and green peppers from seeds he had harvested the year before, babying them throughout the summer months and trash talking that his produce would be the biggest, best, and first to ripen. His other important spring endeavor was taking out “Barney”, his beloved purple Harley Davidson. He rode early in the spring, late into the fall, and, sometimes, even in the winter, loving every minute spent riding with friends on poker runs, destination trips, and just for fun trips.
Bruce had a quick wit, a mischievous smile, and no one was immune from his friendly and relentless teasing. He was easy going and could turn a tense moment around with his amazing sense of humor and warm laughter. Besides his family and his Harley, he loved beer, whiskey, work, guns, Gunsmoke, Word Feud, smoking, good friends, and women, although not necessarily in that order. He lived life on his terms and could be stubborn, refusing to listen to his mother or the doctors, or anyone else he didn’t want to listen to. He was an honest and straight forward person, telling it like it was.
At one time, Bruce was well known, and a little bit feared, for his legendary arm wrestling. Over the years, he won many state championships in multiple weight classes, left or right-handed. Welcome to the gun show!
He was a good family man, a faithful friend, a devoted son, a wonderful big brother, a cribbage player, a thoughtful gift buyer, a jokester, and, most recently, a loving grandfather. He often said he was an excellent driver and he loved to play sheepshead. Christmas won’t be Christmas without Bruce there in his signature Santa suspenders boldly buffing at seven and a half.
Bruce is survived by his sons Bryan (Randi) and Ben, grandson Nicholas, mother Darlene, brother Larry (Nancy), nieces Mackenzie and Mikayla, Julie Kremer, cousins Tom, Jim, Connie, and Charmaine, good friends Gary and Danielle, and other special relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his father Merlin, cousin Don, Uncle Gilbert, Aunt Marie, and boxers Betty and Joe.
Although I never met him, his obituary was so complete and lovingly written… I felt I knew him. Rest in peace young man.
Sorry for the loss he was like a brother to known him for a least 40 years hauled many of loads for him had alot of fun talking and joking one brother to another rest in peace was shocked when I found out of his cancer
Knew Bruce a little. He Certainly lived a full life. so sorry for the loss. God bless his family.