Bruce Charles Anderson, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, entered eternal rest on Friday, October 16, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.  He was born in Waupun, the Township of Chester, Wisconsin.

Bruce graduated from Waupun High School in Waupun, Wisconsin, Class of 1953, where he earned a college football scholarship.  However, due to his father's illness he was able to attend for only one semester.  The family moved to Roswell, New Mexico, to care for his father.  While in New Mexico, Bruce received notice to report for military service.  In the late 1950's, he served in the United States Armored Division out of Fort Polk, Louisiana, during Hurricane Audrey.  The devastation and suffering he witnessed during that event left a lasting impression on him.  Upon his return to civilian life, Bruce worked as a Correctional Officer at the La Tuna Federal Correctional Institution, a low security U.S. Federal Prison for male inmates in Anthony, Texas, just outside of El Paso.  He eventually left this job and moved back to Roswell and became self-employed in a laundry and dry-cleaning plant.  After a few years, he applied and was hired into the Supply Section at Walker Air Force Base, Roswell, New Mexico.  Walker AFB was once the largest Strategic Air Command (SAC) base in the United States, but due to budget cuts and military consolidations, it closed in 1967.  As part of the phased closure, Bruce was offered, and accepted, a position as Inventory Management Specialist in the Material Management Division at Kelly Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.  While in that Division, he was awarded a Certificate for Outstanding Performance for "his exceptional ability to analyze and interpret policies and instructions, less than one percent of his instructions required subsequent revision".  At the time, this was the only award given in this Division.  He also developed the D033 Training Guide and served as Systems Analyst and Manager for the D033 System for the San Antonio Air Logistics Center at Kelly AFB.  The D033 System was a critical inventory accounting platform used to manage, track, and locate depot-level parts and materials supporting military aircraft and weapons systems maintenance.  After serving in various positions, Bruce subsequently rose to the position of Deputy Chief of Supply and retired in January 1988.

Bruce served as President of the Parent-Teacher Association at Holy Rosary Catholic School, where fundraising was his primary function.  He and his committee held a hugely successful fundraising dance at Randy's Rodeo, which brought in much needed money for supplies and after-school activities.  It was held for two years during his term.

Bruce loved his family above all, but also had a deep connection with the young Indian children at Saint Joseph's School in South Dakota.  He was particularly vested in the education they were receiving, so much so that he was a regular contributor to the school.  He was also an avid fisherman, fishing from morning to night any chance he could get.  He enjoyed playing bridge, and also enjoyed playing dominoes, especially with his good friend, Brother Val.  He enjoyed many trips to Hawaii, the East Coast, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Washington State, and Tennessee.  Above all, Bruce was a great storyteller.  However, the same stories somehow got more elaborate and embellished as they were repeated over the years, to the point that the original version was no longer recognizable.  He was part of the Oblate Chapel Sunday community, and after services a small group would gather at Los Barrios for breakfast tacos, which was a treasured outing until COVID intervened.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 53 years, Mary Louise Meiché Anderson; his son, David (Jeanie) Anderson; his daughters, Michelle (Byron+) Van den Berghe, Kimberly (David) DiBiaggio, and Janece (Scott) McClung; his stepdaughter, Martha (Bruce) Munch; and his stepson, Paul Rendon.  He is also survived by his grandchildren, Bryan, Kelly, Amy, and Nicholas Anderson, Cory Van den Berghe, Erin (Erik) Stendebach, Jessica DiBiaggio (Drew Smith), Dominic (Emily) DiBiaggio, and Anthony DiBiaggio; his step-grandchildren, Austin, Abigail, and Alexis Rendon, and David (Crystal) Munch; his great-grandchildren, Addison Smith and Stella DiBiaggio; his step-great-grandchildren, Abigail, Grayson, and Benjamin Munch; his sister, Catherine Gallagher; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by his Parents: Charles Arthur Anderson and Alvira Folz Anderson; son, Douglas Anderson; stepson, Robert Anthony Rendon; brothers, Patrick Anderson and Ronald Anderson, and sister, Sally Frost; step-great-grandchild, Matthew Cervantes.

The family extends our heartfelt gratitude and thanks to his faithful caregivers, Joanna and Eva.  Also, Drs. John Galan, MD, and Hinh (Keith) Nguyen, MD, for their many years of caring for Bruce.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

Saturday, October 31, 2026

Rosary will be recited at 9:30 am followed by the Eulogy

Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 am

Immaculate Conception Memorial Chapel

At the Oblate School of Theology

285 Oblate Drive

Inurnment will follow in

San Fernando Archdiocesan Cemetery No. 2

746 Castroville Road

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

At Bruce's request, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name to: St. Joseph's Indian School, P. O. Box 326, Chamberlain, SD 57326, 1-800-341-2235, www.stjo.org