Bruce Leland Velthouse, of Dowagiac
Published 8:00 am Friday, October 28, 2016
Dec. 9, 1957 — Oct. 24, 2016
Bruce Leland Velthouse, 58, of Dowagiac, passed away Monday, Oct. 24, 2016 in his residence.
Bruce was born Dec. 9, 1957, in Dowagiac, to Henry and Virginia (McKinney) Velthouse.
He worked as a mason/bricklayer with the International Bricklayers Union, Local 9, in Kalamazoo. He enjoyed the outdoors, spending time with his family and friends and building masonry works of art — a skill he learned from his father.
Bruce was preceded in death by his wife, Susan Velthouse (née Kirby), and by his father, Henry Velthouse Jr.
He is survived by four daughters, Brandi (Alric) Evans, Amber (Kenyatte Buck) Velthouse, Dusty Velthouse and Erin Velthouse; a son, Chad Velthouse; a stepson, Brad Willis; his mother, Virginia Velthouse; two sisters, Pam (Todd) White and Dana Velthouse; the mother of his five children, Ann Velthouse (née Heron); and two special brothers, Rusty Elliott Sr. and Perry Wares. Bruce is also survived by 23 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
A celebration of life service will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016, at Clark Chapel & Cremation Services, 405 Center St., Dowagiac. Evangelist Constance Scott will be officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be Adam Elliott, Rusty Elliott Jr., Rodney Velthouse, Kenyatte Buck, Alric Evans, Robert Bacon and Joshua Faher. Following the service, friends and family are invited to gather for dinner at the VFW Post 1855, 472 E. Division St., Dowagiac.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the family in care of Amber Velthouse. Those wishing to sign Bruce’s memory book online may do so at clarkch.com.