George Higgins Bruce

Wasilla resident George Higgins Bruce, 87, died March 8, 2012.

George was born in Zanesville, Ohio, on Sept. 2, 1924, to George and Goldie Bruce, the youngest of their three children.

George served in the U.S. Army during World War II. His entire troop was lost fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. George was the only survivor from his troop, having been left behind the day of deployment due to a sudden illness.

He met the love of his life, Jeannie, while driving a bus in Lorain, Ohio, kindly helping her pick up all the coins she dropped while trying to pay. They were married in 1948, and raised three children during their 63 years together.

He worked as an electrician at the Ford Motor Co. assembly plant in Lorain, Ohio. While commuting to work at the Ford Plant from Oberlin, Ohio, he also totally refurbished an 1890 farmhouse, farmed 40 acres of corn and wheat, planted an orchard, grew a garden and raised livestock. George eventually subdivided some of the acreage and constructed homes on the subdivided lots. He and Jean ultimately built 13 houses together.

George and Jean moved to Alaska in 1981 after falling in love with the Great Land and its people while driving the Alaska Highway during vacations from Ford Motor Co. George retired from Ford Motor Co. after 22 years and immediately established a new business in Wasilla named “The Pine Shop,” making custom wood furniture.

He simultaneously built his own house in Wasilla and ultimately began building log cabin bird feeders for which he became known as “Bird House George.” He routinely displayed and sold his various sizes and styles of custom log bird feeders at craft shows and on the corner of Bogard and Trunk roads in the Valley. His birdfeeders also received several blue ribbons, and the Valley Artists Guild chose him as Artist of the Year.

George loved his wife, children and grandchildren, and worked hard and sacrificed to give them opportunities he was never afforded growing up during the Great Depression. More importantly, he loved the Lord Jesus and lived his life as an example of a Godly man.

Surviving are his wife, Jean; sons and spouses, Scott (Marilyn) Bruce of Bartlesville, Okla., and Steven Bruce of Elyria, Ohio; daughter and husband, Shelley (Norman) Garey of Anchorage; grandchildren, Benjamin and Charles Bruce of Tulsa, Okla., and Whitney and Tiffany Garey of Anchorage; and five great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to the Heart Reach Pregnancy Center, 924 Leatherleaf Loop, Wasilla, AK 99654.