Bruce Bax

Mr. Bruce Lawrence Bax, age 63, of Jefferson City, Mo., passed away peacefully Monday, September 29, 2025, at University Hospital in Columbia, Mo., surrounded by his loving family.
Bruce was born on February 18, 1962, in Jefferson City to Elmer Adolph and Pauline Margaret (Schulte) Bax. A lifelong resident of the Jefferson City area, Bruce was a 1980 graduate of Helias Catholic High School.
The years Bruce spent at Helias didn't just shape him – they formed the bedrock of his character. A triple letterman, excelling in football, basketball, and baseball, athletics would play a major role in his life. His athletic talents led him to play baseball at Crowder College and then at Southwest Missouri State University, where he held the season record for homeruns for many years. It was also at Helias, where he met the person who would become his greatest partner and lifelong love, Ann Frances Schnieders.
Shortly after graduating from Southwest Missouri State University, the couple was married on November 24, 1984, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City. That same year Bruce began working for his in-laws, Donnie and Ruth Ann, at Don Schnieders Excavating Company. During the first decade of his career, he learned the importance of building relationships and a commitment to quality work. In 1994, Bruce and Ann bought the company with partners Don and Jane Rhea and together they grew the company from 10 employees to 70 plus. Bruce took pride in improving Mid-Missouri through construction projects of all sizes. He was proud of all his work, but particularly proud to be a part of the Helias Catholic High School additions, Business 50 Improvements, Dunklin Street Bridge project, Highway 94 Bridges, Lafayette Street Improvements and Page Library on the Lincoln University Campus. In 2024 Bruce retired and his oldest son, Trent, with his wife Kaitie, proudly took the helm as third-generation owners.
Devoted to his faith, Bruce was a longtime member of the Cathedral of St. Joseph. Even through life's trials, Bruce never faltered in his faith. Rarely in a bad mood, Bruce faced the toughest battles with grace, strength, and perseverance. His life reflected steadfast devotion, marked by resilience and courage that inspired those around him.
Bruce was authentic, grounded in strong values and integrity, with a natural ability to build lasting relationships. He had a gift for making anyone he met feel like a friend, and he filled every setting with his humor, quick wit, and boisterous laugh. He enjoyed bird hunting with his father-in-law, Donnie, and golfing with his buddies. He loved tailgating at Mizzou football games, and many weekends were spent at the family's lake cabin, fishing and taking boat rides. In his younger years, Bruce traveled the country playing fast-pitch softball, where his teams not only found success on the field but also forged lifelong friendships that remained dear to him. He grew up playing pitch with his parents and siblings, and some of his fondest memories came from those late-night card games filled with laughter and spirited competition.
He loved many things in life; however, nothing exceeded the love Bruce had for his family. As a father, he took great pride in passing along his passion for sports. He co-founded the Jefferson City Vipers Traveling baseball team and served as its coach for 7 years. As a coach or from the stands, Bruce took advantage of every opportunity to support his children with an encouraging word, competitive critique, or his mere presence. Bruce understood that sports were about more than winning and losing. To him, they were about relationships and experiences that prepare you for life. He took great care to instill this lesson in his children and those he coached.
He was the absolute best grandfather to his five grandkids, and while he held many titles through his life, "Papa Bruce," was most likely his favorite. It was a title that could be heard tossing a ball or judging pool splashes. Bruce made every moment with his grandkids special, and he cherished every second that he was with them.
As active as Bruce was, he loved slow mornings sipping coffee with Ann. For over forty years, Bruce and Ann modeled God's design for marriage. Their union was always rooted in love, strengthened by faith, and marked by unwavering devotion in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. Together they built a life. Their time together was shorter than they hoped, but fuller than they ever dreamed.
He was the most devoted, hardworking, and loving husband, son, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Bruce's unwavering faith, resilient spirit, and always showing up to help others remain his greatest legacy, carried on by all who were blessed to know him.
He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Ann; three children, Trent Bax (Kaitie) of Jefferson City, Taylor Bax (Cassidy) of Jefferson City, and Haley Wascher (Matt) of Kansas City; father, Elmer Bax of Jefferson City; brother, Doug Bax (Kimie) of Jefferson City; sister, Christy Allen (Spencer) of Jefferson City; grandchildren, Brecken, Kennedy, Brooks, Kamden, and Blakely Bax; mother-in-law, Ruth Ann Schnieders; siblings-in-law, Donna Schnieders, Joseph Schnieders (Angela), Sue Ellison (Ray), Teresa Rogers (Mike), Amy Jackson (Bob), and Becky Wright (Steve); and a host of nieces, nephews, and Godchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Pauline, and father-in-law, Donnie Schnieders.
A prayer service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. Visitation will be held after the prayer service from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Joseph.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 3, 2025, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph with Monsignor Robert A. Kurwicki, Diocesan Administrator, and the Reverend Stephen W. Jones concelebrating. Graveside services and interment will take place at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.
A live stream of both the prayer service on Thursday and Mass of Christian Burial on Friday will be available to view for friends that can't make the services by going to the Cathedral of St. Joseph's Facebook page.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to United Way of Central Missouri, 205 Alameda Drive Jefferson City, MO 65109; or Helias Catholic High School to be used to help fund the new baseball complex, 1305 Swifts Highway Jefferson City, MO 65109.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary, 915 Madison St, Jefferson City, MO 65101.