Bruce Albert Wickesberg
After requesting his last sips of coffee just days before, Bruce Albert Wickesberg, age 88, was called home on October 27, 2021 on his late wife’s birthday.
Born to Launce and Viola Wickesberg in Black Creek, Wisconsin Bruce always shared stories of working on the farm while cooling off with a refreshing pint of orange pineapple ice cream, enjoying the best fried fish and “squeaky” cheese anywhere, and even working at the mink farm. He kept busy at Seymour High School playing varsity football, basketball, and baseball and even served as class president for two years. Upon graduating from the University of Wisconsin with an electrical engineering degree, New Mexico beckoned.
During this time he served in the Army Signal Corps, obtained his master’s degree at the University of New Mexico, and worked at Sandia National Laboratories where he met his wife, Shirley Spear. While employed at Sandia he worked on the design and deployment of satellite defense systems, designed and integrated surveillance systems on early GPS satellites, and introduced his children to the world of science and engineering during memorable Family Days until retiring in 1996 after forty years.
Bruce lived life to the fullest- an avid skier, exuberant garage ping pong player, enthusiastic fisherman while camping, robust tomato gardener, devoted reader– all while never forgetting to cheer on his beloved Green Bay Packers. Arduously long road trips acquainted the family to beautiful areas of the country and Canada. And he always made sure to spoil Jasper, the adored family cocker spaniel. He remained an active member of the church and relentlessly supported his grandchildren in all of their activities, both in heart and in person.
His legacy lives on through his daughter Cathi Purcella, and husband Gary; children Derek, Ashley, and Melissa; son Brian Wickesberg, and wife Audra, children Tyler and spouse Caleb Bradberry, Alejandro, Aaron, and Ava; many nieces and nephews; and seven brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, and sister-in-law.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at 10:00 am at Christ Lutheran Church, 7701 Candelaria Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM.