Bruce G. Hesse

Bruce Glenn Hesse of North Branch passed away from liver cancer peacefully in our new home of ten days on August 25, 2025.

Bruce was born on January 25, 1948 in Minneapolis to parents, Donald and Virginia Hesse. The family moved to Rush City where he attended kindergarten thru twelve grade. He worked for farmers around the area during the summer months and also helped his dad with logging and peeling logs. He was drafted into the Army right out of high school in 1968 serving during the Vietnam era. Upon his return from his military duties he met his wife Shelley Harris and they were married on September 28, 1972. Bruce then reenlisted in the Army and was stationed in Washington State for two years and then sent to Germany for two more additional years. He returned home and settled in North Branch and went to work for the City of North Branch Public Works Dept. taking care of the parks for 30 years. Bruce retired in 2011.

Bruce loved to travel and had only six states left to visit. He enjoyed working out in his yard where he cut and split many Oak Trees. He had many hobbies but his number one hobby was "What Shelley wants Shelley gets" making yard furniture and planters. He built many bird houses for family and friends. For years he went to the We Fest Concerts where he met some wonderful longtime friends who would still get together once a year to camp and play music with their band. He loved his Cardinals and Hummingbirds that he fed for the past 30 years and was also a diehard Vikings fan.

In 2007 he reconnected with his Army brothers from Vietnam and attended their reunions every two years and was able to attend eight of them over the years and allowed him and Shelley to travel to many different states to attend.

His kindness, strength and humility touched not just his family but all who knew him. His contagious smile and goofy sense of humor would light up any room he was in and make even the worst day seem a bit brighter. Although he may be gone from this world his legacy lives on through people he touched. We carry his memory with us and it brings comfort to know that so much of his is alive in friends and family.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Shelley (Harris) Hesse; sister Debbie Gunter of Red Wing and many nieces, nephews and many other family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Virginia Hesse, sister, Joann and husband Everett Adams; sister, Nancy Hesse; brother in law, Roger Gunter and grandparents.

A Celebration of Life will take place at a later. Private family interment will be held at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.