One of my very earliest memories is of Uncle Bruce. I was two or three years old and I remember him surprising us with a visit right after he returned from the Korean War. He brought me a book of Japanese Children's Stories which I still have but it has been read to pieces and now I read it to my grandchildren very gently. In those days when he was a pilot, anytime a plane flew over our mom and my siblings would run out of the house and look up into the sky, "waving to Uncle Bruce!"

He was always special to me and he took a big interest in me as I grew up.  Even though he had his own six children he always wanted the best for me, encouraging me and cheering me on. I think of him every fall when I make applesauce because it was he who gave me my Squeezo Strainer which makes canning applesauce a breeze!

One time when our family visited his family in Utah we encountered a rattlesnake on the road and somehow he killed it and we brought it home and ate it for dinner! He was an adventurous person! And he was always happy to make a memory for us!

I know Uncle Bruce loved life and would have liked to be immortal. He was generous and kind and always helping others. It's what meant so much to him. I'm very lucky he was my uncle and I appreciate the lessons he taught me and the love he showed me!