Obituary for Bruce Pendzich
Bruce D Pendzich of South Milwaukee, WI found eternal peace on Friday, March 11th, 2022, at the age of 67. Bruce is reunited with his loving parents Edward Sr and Jane (nee Moffatt) Pendzich, and his brothers Edward (Eddie) and Lawrence (Larry) Pendzich. Bruce is survived by his soulmate Suzanne (Sue) Pendzich (nee Lee), his children Mark (Kara), Katherine (Matthew) Levine, Elizabeth (Miles) Hibbs, and Michael; and his loving grandchildren Morgan, Bryce, Milo, Layla, Blake, Maks, Emmalee, and Tristan. Loved brother of Ken (LuAnn) and Barb (Greg) Trzecinski. Loved son-in-law of Richard and Kathleen Lee; beloved brother-in-law of Kristen Hein, Pam (Dave) Kostowicz, Tom (Karen) Lee, Cheryl (Tom Downs) Lee, Jim Lee, Mary Kay Lee, and Linda (Scott Uhlman) Lee. Survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and lifelong friends.
Born January 5th, 1955, the 4th of 5 children, Bruce was a man of many talents. An accomplished bowler with thirteen 300 games to his credit, multiple honor scores, and participant of 35 USBC National Tournaments. Bruce’s esteemed bowling career was highlighted in 2001 when Bruce was inducted into the TriCity Bowling Hall of Fame. Bruce remained an avid bowler in his later years, and much to the chagrin of his beloved wife Sue, Bruce lived by the motto etched on a plaque in his office; “We interrupt this marriage to bring you the bowling season”. Bruce will surely be missed at this years event where Bruce had plans of attending prior to his passing.
In addition to his love of bowling, Bruce was an avid golfer. A member of numerous leagues, many of Bruce’s favorite times were spent on the golf course (as long as he had a cart). Over his lifetime Bruce hit 3 holes in one on the golf course, though if you ask his friend Frank, one of them does not count. Many of Bruce’s lifelong friends were people he met playing the games that he loved, and his presence will be missed by those who played with him.
While Bruce was an accomplished bowler and golfer, the story of Bruce Pendzich is not defined by his time on the lanes or the greens, but by the meeting of his soulmate Suzanne (Sue) in 1976 and the family they started. While the details of what prompted Bruce to ask Sue out initially are hazy, the rumor is Bruce only asked Sue out after he saw that she could match him drink for drink at the bar, Sue says “It’s a good thing the bar closed when it did”. Married on September 9th, 1978, Bruce and Sue’s love endured through the years. While Bruce’s 1st love may have been bowling, his true love was Sue and his 4 children Mark, Katie, Beth, and Mike. There is no greater evidence of this then the story of the birth of their 3rd child. Born early in the morning of Jan 31st, 1987, during the height of Bruce’s bowling career, he made sure he was there for the birth of Beth, before rushing to the Peterson Bowling Classic in Chicago, Illinois. A loving husband and father, Bruce proved time and time again that there was nothing he would not do for his wife and children. Later in life, after Bruce’s children had grown and started families of their own, Bruce joyfully embraced the role of Grandpa to his grandchildren. Despite the 300 games on the lanes, or the holes in one on the greens, Bruce’s greatest talents were putting smiles on the faces, and joy in the hearts of his 8 grandchildren. Every Tuesday night at the weekly family dinners, Bruce would play with his grandchildren and torment their parents by sneaking them extra desserts or letting the grandkids get away with something that their parents had scolded them for moments before.
An accomplished sportsman and an avid family man, it could be said that Bruce was also the life of any party. The start of every summer since 1979 was marked by the annual Pendzich Memorial Day gathering, hosted by Bruce and Sue. The Annual Labor Day Chili Dump and Corn Roast would be the indication that summer had sadly come to a close. Bruce reveled in the opportunities to play host to his friends and family, showing off his talents on the grill, and showing off his DJ skills by creating the perfect playlist for every party. All who attended an event hosted by Bruce and Sue Pendzich will have lasting memories of good food, good tunes and good times. Proven by the classic bowling ball shots that years later made way for the Fireball shots which Bruce would not let you drink until the chorus of Fireball by Pitbull was playing over the speakers. Our lives are forever changed but our memories of Bruce will let him live on in our hearts forever.
A visitation for Bruce Pendzich will be held Friday, March 18th at Molthen-Bell Funeral Home from 4-7pm. An additional visitation will be held Saturday, March 19th from 10-11am at St. Stephens Catholic Church, (1441 W Oakwood Road, Oak Creek, WI 53154) with Mass at 11 AM. Burial to follow at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, 3800 E College Ave, Cudahy, WI 53110.
Born January 5th, 1955, the 4th of 5 children, Bruce was a man of many talents. An accomplished bowler with thirteen 300 games to his credit, multiple honor scores, and participant of 35 USBC National Tournaments. Bruce’s esteemed bowling career was highlighted in 2001 when Bruce was inducted into the TriCity Bowling Hall of Fame. Bruce remained an avid bowler in his later years, and much to the chagrin of his beloved wife Sue, Bruce lived by the motto etched on a plaque in his office; “We interrupt this marriage to bring you the bowling season”. Bruce will surely be missed at this years event where Bruce had plans of attending prior to his passing.
In addition to his love of bowling, Bruce was an avid golfer. A member of numerous leagues, many of Bruce’s favorite times were spent on the golf course (as long as he had a cart). Over his lifetime Bruce hit 3 holes in one on the golf course, though if you ask his friend Frank, one of them does not count. Many of Bruce’s lifelong friends were people he met playing the games that he loved, and his presence will be missed by those who played with him.
While Bruce was an accomplished bowler and golfer, the story of Bruce Pendzich is not defined by his time on the lanes or the greens, but by the meeting of his soulmate Suzanne (Sue) in 1976 and the family they started. While the details of what prompted Bruce to ask Sue out initially are hazy, the rumor is Bruce only asked Sue out after he saw that she could match him drink for drink at the bar, Sue says “It’s a good thing the bar closed when it did”. Married on September 9th, 1978, Bruce and Sue’s love endured through the years. While Bruce’s 1st love may have been bowling, his true love was Sue and his 4 children Mark, Katie, Beth, and Mike. There is no greater evidence of this then the story of the birth of their 3rd child. Born early in the morning of Jan 31st, 1987, during the height of Bruce’s bowling career, he made sure he was there for the birth of Beth, before rushing to the Peterson Bowling Classic in Chicago, Illinois. A loving husband and father, Bruce proved time and time again that there was nothing he would not do for his wife and children. Later in life, after Bruce’s children had grown and started families of their own, Bruce joyfully embraced the role of Grandpa to his grandchildren. Despite the 300 games on the lanes, or the holes in one on the greens, Bruce’s greatest talents were putting smiles on the faces, and joy in the hearts of his 8 grandchildren. Every Tuesday night at the weekly family dinners, Bruce would play with his grandchildren and torment their parents by sneaking them extra desserts or letting the grandkids get away with something that their parents had scolded them for moments before.
An accomplished sportsman and an avid family man, it could be said that Bruce was also the life of any party. The start of every summer since 1979 was marked by the annual Pendzich Memorial Day gathering, hosted by Bruce and Sue. The Annual Labor Day Chili Dump and Corn Roast would be the indication that summer had sadly come to a close. Bruce reveled in the opportunities to play host to his friends and family, showing off his talents on the grill, and showing off his DJ skills by creating the perfect playlist for every party. All who attended an event hosted by Bruce and Sue Pendzich will have lasting memories of good food, good tunes and good times. Proven by the classic bowling ball shots that years later made way for the Fireball shots which Bruce would not let you drink until the chorus of Fireball by Pitbull was playing over the speakers. Our lives are forever changed but our memories of Bruce will let him live on in our hearts forever.
A visitation for Bruce Pendzich will be held Friday, March 18th at Molthen-Bell Funeral Home from 4-7pm. An additional visitation will be held Saturday, March 19th from 10-11am at St. Stephens Catholic Church, (1441 W Oakwood Road, Oak Creek, WI 53154) with Mass at 11 AM. Burial to follow at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, 3800 E College Ave, Cudahy, WI 53110.