Bruce Cole

Bruce Arnold Cole, age 77, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2026, in Minneapolis, MN, surrounded by love. Born on April 18, 1949, in Mt. Pleasant, he was the cherished son of Erma E. (Maybee) Cole and Ralph Arnold Cole. Bruce was the third of four siblings and was preceded in death by his parents as well as his beloved sisters, Carolyn Freeman and Cherie McKay, and his brother, Blair Arnold.

Bruce lived most of his vibrant life in Greenville, MI, where he built a beautiful family and left an indelible mark on his community. He was a deeply devoted family man whose most important roles in life were as a husband and a father. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife and grounding force, Carole (Tein) Cole, a woman he fondly remembered as a saint for keeping him in line. He leaves behind his proudest legacy, his son, Brendan Michael Cole, as well as a lifetime of premium memories. Bruce loved his family fiercely and was lifelong "number one fan" of his own father.

Professionally, Bruce was a well-respected figure in the community, retiring from Chemical Bank where he served for many years as a Vice President and Commercial Loans Officer. Beyond his career, Bruce's hands and heart were always working to build up others. He poured 20 years of dedicated service into Habitat for Humanity, using his time to create stable homes for families in need.

An outdoor enthusiast to his core, Bruce was an avid hunter, fisherman, and golfer. He was incredibly artistic and creative, a talent that shone brightly through his precision in tying flies, crafting custom fishing rods, and building rustic furniture. His artistry also had a festive flair: Bruce was famous for wrapping the most beautifully precise Christmas presents and transforming his home each winter with an astonishing display of over 100,000 Christmas lights.

Bruce’s true happy place was at the Slagle Trout Club, where he served selflessly for years as a board member, treasurer, and camp manager. He loved nothing more than hanging out there, telling stories, and laughing with his best friends. He was equally dedicated to conservation, serving as a board member, president, and treasurer for Ducks Unlimited. Bruce was famously luckier than most, winning so many raffle drawings over the years that his house was proudly covered in Ducks Unlimited paraphernalia.

Extremely social and possessing loads of friends, Bruce was a proud member of the Sigma Theta "old guys" fraternity. He was a massive sports fan, always loudly cheering on his beloved University of Michigan. To know Bruce was to know a master storyteller, a man who absolutely adored babies, an individual who stubbornly refused to let a green vegetable cross his plate, and a legendary card shark. If you sat down across from him to play Euchre, you were almost guaranteed to lose—Bruce had an uncanny ability to always know exactly what cards you were holding.

Though he carried the physical burden of a high school football injury that plagued his back later in life, Bruce never let pain dim his social spirit or his wit. He was a man of deep faith, immense talent, and exceptional loyalty. He will be profoundly missed by his son, his lifelong friends, and the communities he served so well.

Bruce's Memorial Service will be 11 AM Saturday, October 24, 2026 at Calvary Baptist Church. Memorial contributions can be made in Bruce's name to Alpha Family Services.

Local arrangements are by the Marshall Funeral Home, Greenville.