Remembering Bob Bruzas

Robert Alan “Bob” Bruzas

“Bob Bruzas was born on September 22, 1943 in Seattle, WA to Joseph and Ruth Bruzas. He was raised in Bothell and graduated from Bothell High in 1961. A love of children led him to pursue volunteer work with Easter Seals, and a career in teaching. He graduated from Washington State University in 1966. He was the director of Camp Patterson, for disabled children, for 13 years. This is where he met his wife, Hildi, who worked there as a counsellor. They married in 1972, and began raising their family in Everett, where Bob worked with Young Life, taught Sunday School at Silver Lake Chapel, and taught P.E. for 30 years at Evergreen Middle School. He loved coaching gymnastics and wrestling.

Bob loved Jesus Christ, and was faithful to encourage people around him with the reminder that God loved them and would meet whatever need they had. His heart for hurting people gave him an eternal impact in many lives.

Bob enjoyed hiking, fishing, working on the Idaho ranch, gardening, and keeping in touch with former students.
Bob lived bravely with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) for 15 years. He loved having his grandchildren around, and also enjoyed visits with many precious people, in person and on the phone. The birds, farm animals, flowers, and wildlife he saw from his chair were a daily joy. He finally saw His Savior face-to-face on September 5, 2007. Through the progression of this disease, he was lovingly cared for at home by his wife and children and by our dear hospice nurse friend, Donna.

He leaves his devoted wife, Hildi; and his children, Rachel (Brian) Foster, Rebecca (Laren) McGuigan, Deborah (Jerry) Schwartz, David (Michelle), Anna, Peter (Aminta), Daniel, Tommy, Mark, John, and Greta (all of Grangeville, Idaho, except David, living in Black Diamond, WA.); his grandchildren, Kate Foster, Joey, Mary, Hildi, Patrick, and Saoirse McGuigan, Jesse and Damaris Schwartz, Annabelle Bruzas, and Faith, Nelson, and Beau Bruzas, will miss “Papa”. He also leaves his siblings, Joe Bruzas and Kathy Schroeder; and many nieces and nephews.

Bob was buried in the family cemetary in a private service, and will be honored at two memorial services at 1 p.m., Monday, September 10, 2007, at Christian Reformed Church, Grangeville, ID and Saturday, September 22, Rose Hill Presbyterian Church, 12202 NE 90th, Kirkland, WA.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to www.persecutionproject.org (water wells project in Africa).”

6 thoughts on “Remembering Bob Bruzas

  1. Oh my Lord Jesus Christ! Bob Bruzas Baptisted me in the river below the Jordan road as I told him I wanted to be baptized in the Jordan River.It was a cold night in autumn,after we sang praise to the elderly in bethel home on a Friday night. Bethel home is in Everett WA. So Bob Bruzas encouraged me to listen to my parents and obey your Mom and Dad. I looked for his name today and found out about his Life and know how he is with our joyous loving Father,full of so much happiness and Grace.Diana my phone number for family in our lives is 8287645351

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  4. I cannot think of a more fitting and honouring tribute at this time to Bob’s life than this, Mark. I will share this with Hildi… and I know she’ll be so blessed to hear of this wonderful testimony. Yes, all the way to the very end of his life, Bob was a living testimony of the great grace of God and he continued to have a profound influence and was such and inspiration in numerous individual lives.

    God bless you more and more… and may you continue to grow in His grace and mercy.

    Thank you for this great encouragement this evening. –pamela

  5. Bob touched my life at Evergreen Middle School,when I was lost to drugs,he took me to see David Wilkerson.Bob lifted me up on stage and David laid his hands on me and prayed for me,I remember driving home that night in the back of Bob’s red truck and stopping to look at the Aurora Borialis,it was a wonderfull night.I wish I could say I have been a Christen ever since but I turned away from the lord for 37 years,but I never forgot that night.I am happy to say I got sober and clean 12/12/08,and on Valentines day I met a Godly woman who encouraged me to seek a personal relationship with Jesus,I gave my life back to the Lord and married that girl.I have told her and many others the story of Bob and that night.Last sunday we were at service at New Life in Everett and they were showing a video testimony of a man named Scott Katz,he talked of a PE teacher named Bob Bruzas,who was an inspiration to him.Bob was an inspireration to me too.I forgot to mention the wonder times I spent with him at his home with his wife in the woods when Bob was trying to make a difference in my life.I know he is with Him now……I imagine him poking God in the ribs saying see I knew he would come bak to you,Abba…Father.God bless you Bob……..Love Mark Epstein

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