Bruce Douglas Buchanan

Dr. Bruce Douglas Buchanan, Resident of Anderson Island,WA. Age 84,born September 22, 1938 in Bakersfield California. Bruce passed into the presence of his Savior and Lord on November 6, 2022.

Bruce Douglas Buchanan was born into a world just coming into World War II. His childhood began in California, followed by time in Canada - where his father was a military pilot trainer for Royal Canadian Air Force, and finally Lakewood, WA where he attended Clover Park schools. Following high school, Bruce attended Washington State University, joining the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and earning a Bachelor of Science degree, remaining a diehard Cougar fan. His ROTC time in college provided a commission as Second Lieutenant. Young Lieutenant Buchanan and his bride Nicole traveled to Ft. McClellan, where he started his service in the Army Chemical Corps. Following this service, Bruce used his Science degree to teach school in Moses Lake, WA for one year, but he felt a renewed calling to practice medicine. Now also the father of Heather Christie, Bruce dove deeply into his studies at Marquette University Medical School. After an internship at the University of Washington, Bruce reentered the military service as a Captain, and always appreciated the specialty training he received from the Army. Dr. Buchanan finished service as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Medical Corps. Colonel Buchanan greatly valued his time during the Vietnam war serving stateside to care for returning soldiers, as well as for the many refugees with illness coming through San Francisco.

Upon discharge from active service, Dr. Buchanan began a practice in pulmonary medicine in Tacoma, WA, where his children, Heather Buchanan Leek and Rex Buchanan, grew up. Many former colleagues have noted that Dr. Buchanan was instrumental in bringing pulmonary and critical care medicine to the medical community. His career and personal life turned East to Spokane in 1993, when he married Sally, and worked as an internist and pulmonologist with Rockwood Clinic and the Veterans Administration Hospital. The Veterans Hospital led to a return to the West side, where he worked as a hospitalist, retiring as Director of Primary Care at American Lake Veterans Administration campus. Dearly missing his life as a physician after retirement, Dr. Buchanan accepted part-time positions, first in Wisconsin, then as a provider at Community Health Care in Tacoma.

Bruce Buchanan lived a large life, enjoying many pursuits in hiking, and sports, with significant natural ability throughout life in many athletic competitions, particularly tennis and golf in his older years. A retirement move to Anderson Island brought new joy in community, where he loved sharing island history as a docent at the historic farm and helping Sally tend their community garden. Membership in American Legion Post 265 was a source of pride for Bruce, dubbed "Q6" in one tender moment of camaraderie, for their commitment to supporting many Island groups. He was a joy-filled force of life on our island, and in his last days, Bruce asked Sally to thank Anderson Island for all that the islanders have meant to him. He actively engaged in Bible Studies and Men's breakfast at Anderson Island Christian Fellowship, embracing every opportunity to deepen his knowledge. In his last decades of life, his faith grew more alive as he thoroughly immersed himself in the Word of God. He was a remarkable, loving Husband, Dad, Stepdad and Papa. Through years of chronic illness and challenges, he remained engaged and joyful. Our world will be quieter, but enriched, for the time he had here. And, indeed, Bruce Buchanan finished well.

Preceded in Death by his parents Frank and Lois Buchanan, his sister Connie and brother Robert.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Sally Buchanan, his daughter Heather and husband Bob Leek, son Rex and wife Tina Buchanan. Also Sally's children, her son Todd and wife Kendra Clark , daughter Christina and husband Thomas Reimer and son Paul Clark.

Bruce was Papa to thirteen special grandchildren - Julian and wife Kayleigh Reimer, Nathan Clark, Benjamin Clark, Sam and wife Natalie Reimer, Ethan Reimer, Lydia and husband Spencer Reed, Sophia Leek, Coulter Leek, Kaelin Clark, Kees Leek, Angus Buchanan, Lochlain Buchanan and Wilder Buchanan

Nieces Robyne Gensky, Wendy Cooper and their children

Memorial Services are as follows

Saturday November 19th at 2pm

Memorial Service

Anderson Island Christian Fellowship

9020 Eckenstam Johnson Rd

Anderson Island, WA 98303

Reception to follow at Anderson Island Archival Building

9306 Otso Point Rd

Anderson Island, WA

Sunday November 20th at 2pm

Memorial Service with Reception to follow at the church

Evangelical Reformed Church

7435 South Madison

Tacoma, WA

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Anderson Island Young Life or Anderson Island Historical Society.

https://giving.younglife.org

https://www.anderson-island.org/AImembers/AIHSdonateform.php