Bruce Lee Simmons

1936 - 2025

Bruce Lee Simmons
Born: June 16, 1936 in Kewanee, IL
Died: March 1, 2025 in Kewanee, IL
Princeton – Bruce Lee Simmons, 88, of Princeton, IL passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at OSF St. Luke Medical Center in Kewanee, IL
Born on June 16, 1936 to the Late Everett and Doris (Palmer) Simmons, in Kewanee, IL. He married Helen (Gerard) Foffel on February 2, 1961. They would later divorce. He found love again with Catherine (Koop) Ouellette, they married on September 26, 1981. They shared almost 25 years together before her passing on February 4, 2006.
He was a graduate of Galva High School and attended Bradley University. He served in the Army National Guard. He worked for Galva Creamery and Jones & Laughlin Steel Company. He would later retire from LTV Steel in Hennepin, IL. In his early retirement, he drove buses for the Bureau County Senior Center.
Bruce spent much of his time in lawn chairs and on bleachers watching over his grandchildren as they participated in school activities and sports. Same bleachers a lot of the time that he sat and cheered on his own children. He was a very proud and vocal supporter of his family.
He loved his Chicago Bears and White Sox. He enjoyed traveling to Texas for many winters in an RV with Kathy by his side. They were members of a large RV group and made great friends over the years. He had quite the knack for restoring old furniture pieces, he really was talented at it.. He enjoyed a good cup of coffee at his favorite restaurant, the Red Apple.
Bruce was a member of St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Princeton, IL., and an active member of the Lions Club.
Survived by his four children - two sons, Steven (Jeanne) Foffel and Howard Simmons; two daughters, Penny (Terry) Warren and Kelly Smith, all of Toulon, IL; four step-children, Robert (Judy) Ouellette of Saginaw, MI, Cheryl (Dave) Biddix of Dover, IL Mary (John) Cooper of Butner, NC and Mike (Andrea) Ouellette of Riverview, FL; grandchildren Ian (Danielle) Foffel, Christen (Austin) Charlet, Jaymes (Taylor) Warren, Ashlyn (Chris) Baumann, Cari (Mike) Spencer, Jamie Ouellette (Adam Wolfgang), Catherine (Sam) Sturdevant, Melinda Biddix Olliges (Brandon Ouellette), Rob Biddix, Jake Biddix, Christian Ouellette, Mick Ouellette, Elizabeth (Corey) Mitchell and Abigail (Hunter Prince) Ouellette; as well as fifteen great grandchildren and one great baby girl on the way and one sister-in-law Marie Grunert.
Preceded by his parents, Everett and Doris Simmons, wife Catherine Simmons, son-in-law Todd Smith and sister, Bonnie Conrady.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at Norberg Memorial Home, Inc. & Monuments from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
Services will be held on Friday, March 7, 2025 at Norberg Memorial Home, Inc. & Monuments at 10:00 am with Pastor Scott Schmidt officiating. Graveside services to follow at Oakland Cemetery in Princeton, IL
Pallbearers: Jaymes Warren, Chris Baumann, Austin Charlet, Ian Foffel, Sam Sturdevant, Michael Spencer. Honorary Pallbearers: Rob Biddix, Jake Biddix, Christian Ouellette, Mick Ouellette.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Matthews Lutheran Church, ALS Association, Theresa Tracy Strive to Survive Foundation or Lions Club.
Online condolences may be directed to www.norbergfh.com
Arrangements by Norberg Memorial Home, Inc. & Monuments.