Bruce Vanatta

Bruce (Van) Clyde Vanatta of Vona, Colorado, passed away September 15, 2012 due to heart problems. He was born September 28, 1946, at Ottawa, Kansas, to Claude and Elsie (Tanner) Vanatta, and was the first of four children. They lived on the family farm outside Mont Ida, Kansas, until his father passed away in 1957. Then, his mother moved Bruce and his siblings back to Vona. Two years later, his mother was married to his stepfather, George Rasmussen.

Bruce graduated from Vona high school in 1964 and started his college education at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado, before he enlisted into service with the United States Army and served as a Combat Engineer Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer during his 15-month tour in Viet Nam.

Bruce received a degree in education at Boise State. During this time, he met and married Lynne Cameron. After graduation, they moved to Australia for a three year contract, where he started his teaching career. In 1977, they welcomed a baby boy named Joshua to their family. They moved back to Idaho and eventually to Alaska in 1981. Bruce started teaching 6th grade at Chugiak Elementary. After Bruce and Lynn divorced, he and Josh moved to Wasilla. Later, he taught 6th grade language arts and social studies at Mirror Lake Middle School. His declining health caused him to retire after 25 years as an educator in Alaska.

In 2010 Bruce moved back to Vona, CO where he especially loved being involved in the activities of his extended family. Bruce will certainly be remembered for his ready smile and laughter as he went through life, for his friendly and compassionate treatment of others, for his willingness to help those who needed it, and for his involvement with his church and his faith. He will also be remembered for his knowledge of, and loyalty to, the sports teams of Boise State, the Seattle Mariners, and the Seattle Seahawks! Bruce was an avid model railroader.

He is survived by his son Josh Vanatta of Tempe, AZ; his stepsisters Mildred Davis (Maurice) of Riverton, WY and Carrol Schoening (Jenner) of Riverton, WY; brother MyronVanatta (JoEllen) of Lakewood, WA; sister Ellen Einspahr (Loren) of Castle Rock, CO; brother Claude Rasmussen (Jane) of Elizabeth, CO; uncle Harold Pickard (Nola) of Burlington, CO; aunt Margaret Tanner of La Junta, CO; aunt Dorothy Tanner of Burlington, CO; and many cousins and friends.

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