Bruce Ernest DePew

Bruce DePew of North Mankato, Minnesota passed away on February 21, 2016 at Pathstone Living.

Memorial service will be held on Friday, February 26 at 11:00 a.m. at Hosanna Lutheran Church with Rev. Mike Omtvedt officiating.  Visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Friday at the church.  Interment will be at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at a later date. He will rest beside his loving parents. Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be directed to Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mankato, MN or an organization of choice.

Bruce Ernest DePew was born on June 7, 1934 in Dell Rapids, South Dakota. He was the only child of Arvol George and Loretta Nannie (Frahm) DePew. He attended school near their farm in Colton until they moved to Rutland, South Dakota. He graduated valedictorian from Rutland High School in 1952.

Although he considered farming, Bruce decided to attend undergraduate school at South Dakota State University in Brookings. On his 18th birthday, he helped his father put the hay crop in the barn and left the farm. He attended South Dakota State, was on the ROTC Rifle Team, worked parttime at Urevig's Bootery and also joined the Brookings' Heavy Weapons Company National Guard where he earned a marksman medal. In 1955, he moved to Madison, South Dakota to continue his education at General Beadle State Teaching College, currently Dakota State University. He had fond memories of his work at Burg's Bootery where he worked while attending General Beadle. The owner offered him a partnership position but instead chose to become a teacher. In 1957 he received a BS Degree from General Beadle with a double major in science and math and a double minor in psychology and social studies. He earned his Master's Degree from the University of Minnesota and the State College of Iowa, in 1960 and 1961.

His thirty-five year teaching career took Bruce and his family many places. He was a gifted teacher, who taught mathematics, science and physics in Fairfax and LeSueur, Minnesota and then Wurzburg and Fulda, Germany where he taught for the U.S. Department of Defense. After their return to the United States, he taught advanced mathematics in Mankato until his retirement in 1993.

During his retirement years Bruce enjoyed his hobby farm, his friends, family and his writing.

Bruce loved his family and was a devoted friend to many. He believed in honesty, hard work, patience, and loyalty. His sense of humor and life-long learning led him to carry index cards in his pocket with lists of books to read and jokes to tell. He participated in various entrepreneurial ventures, liked to work in his shop, and enjoyed writing. He wrote books for his family and friends including stories about his growing up on the farm in rural America. He was especially proud of the hardcover book, about his life, that he had published for his family. His gentle, kind of conscientious nature would follow him throughout his successful teaching career, where he truly cared about his students, and then finally into his time at Pathstone Living.

He will be sadly missed by Arlene, his daughters, Sherry Trahms (Tom) Janesville, MN and Connie Mann (Royce) of Maiden Rock, WI, grandchildren, Mike (Lindsey), Jacob, Laura, Gary (Courtney), Jeremy (Drew), Derick (Rachel), Evan, Colton, great-grandchildren, Stephen, Ashton and Dylan, Arlene’s children, Diane Schultz (Oliver) of Newman, GA, Kathy Devlaeminck (Mike) of Plato, MN, Tim Lynaugh (Laurie) of Stillwater, MN, Matt Lynaugh (Teri) of Hutchinson, MN, grandchildren, Dustin, Kiela, Haley.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, son, Mark, and grandson, Josh Lynaugh.

The family would like to thank his wonderful, faithful friends that stayed close to him over the years and the amazing staff at Pathstone that loved him like family.