Obituary of Bruce Willis

Lawton - Bruce Willis, NTA (a beloved acronym for ‘Not The Actor’), passed away unexpectedly at his home on November 15, 2021 at the age of 78. Bruce was born on June 28, 1943, in Hammond, Indiana to Katherine MacMurrough Willis (deceased) and Frank F. Willis Jr. (deceased). He graduated from Lawton High School in 1961. Following high school, Bruce attended Western Michigan University until 1963 when he married his high school sweetheart, Sandra Kay Root Willis. Bruce completed both his bachelor’s in education and his master’s in counseling at Michigan State University. He then taught in Lansing at Walter French Jr High School for ten years. He and his family moved back to Lawton where he became the President of Wilco Machinery. He and his wife built the family home on Cedar Lake. He was a founding member of the Cedar Lake Association. A board member of the Van Buren County Commissioners and of Van Buren Mental Health. In addition, he was a co-organizer of Lawton’s Kids Dream Park. Bruce was predeceased by his parents and his nephew, Thomas Allen Padden. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sandra Willis; his two sisters, Penny Willis-Feeney and Tara Prior; his two daughters, Sonya Lynn Willis and Tonya Rae Willis-Blanchard; and his four grandchildren, Kylie Katherine Bean, Harley Jane Bean, Ember Rae Blanchard, and Sawyer Ann Blanchard; his brother and sister In-law; as well as several nieces and 1 nephew. A Celebration of Life is planned for June 25, 2022 at 2 pm at his home on Cedar Lake. It will be led by his brother-in-law, John Root. Following the service there will be a picnic in his honor. Family and friends may share condolence messages online at www.whitley.obit@gmail.