Bruce Franklin Kreitler

Bruce Kreitler, 63, of Abilene, Texas passed away August 4, 2024, after a long struggle with cancer. Funeral services for Bruce will be held on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 10:00am at Southwest Park Baptist Church, 2901 S. 20th St., Abilene, TX, followed by interment at Elmwood
Memorial Park Cemetery with graveside services. Pastor Mike Woodard will be officiating. Pallbearers will be Matt, Doug, and Steve Kreitler, Dennis Reddell, Steve Savage, Stephen Myers, Adam Andrews, and Ryan Marrs. Funeral services are under the direction of North's Funeral Home. Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, at North's Funeral Home located at 242 Orange St., Abilene, TX.
Bruce was born November 28, 1960, to Clark and Rosemary Tinkey Kreitler, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, while his father was serving in the Army. He, and the rest of the family, moved around the country, and the world with his father, until coming to the Abilene area in 1969, where his father retired.
Bruce graduated from Clyde High School in 1978, and while he attended college for a year, he soon found that his love of hard work, and determination to finish a job, was in demand in the working world. After that, it didn't take him long to make his way into the oilfield. Bruce's
determination and drive led him to have a successful career in the oilfield, and even though he was there for twenty five years, plenty of time to go through several boom and bust cycles, he developed a reputation as a top hand, which not only saw him, and his family, through the slow times, but also led to Bruce being asked to take ever more challenging jobs. After fifteen years of working overseas, where Bruce was eventually promoted to the position of Senior Rig Superintendent, and oversaw the hardest, most dangerous projects, he resigned that position in 2006, left the oilfield, and took up the full-time operation of his tree service company, which he and his wife had incorporated in 1999.
Bruce married the love of his life, Caroline Elizabeth Cameron on March 24, 1984, and never looked back. He and Caroline bought a house in Abilene in 1986, raised their children Dale and Connie there, and lived in that house for the rest of his life. While Bruce would tell you that he enjoyed his life while he was traveling, mostly because of the things he learned to do, and was able to accomplish, he would also tell you that he had done enough traveling and was perfectly content to stay home.
Bruce had many interests, and as a life-long reader, with an inquisitive mind, when he wanted to know something, there was going to be some reading involved. Not only did Bruce do a lot of study and reading, he became an accomplished author/writer, with a published book, and
frequent publications in national magazines and regional papers. He also did a weekly radio show, of his own design, for over a decade. With a solid work ethic, determination, and hard work, Bruce was able to indulge his lifelong love of trees, and attain the level of Board Certified Master Arborist, while operating Broken Willow Tree Service.
Bruce Kreitler was a man who firmly believed in standing up for his principles, doing the right thing, especially when the right thing wasn't the convenient thing, being honest, and keeping his word. He was also a firm believer in the rule of law being applied evenly, and the Second Amendment. While he was not someone who sought out leadership for leadership's sake, he felt that "those who can", should. Thus he served one term on the Abilene City Council, where he stood firm for what he believed in, no matter the consequences.
Bruce Kreitler is preceded in death by his father, Clark Kreitler, his father-in-law, Travis Otis Cameron, his mother-in-law, Clara Luisa Gonzalez Cameron, his brother-in-law, Dean Frank Cameron, and his nephew, Tanner Kreitler.
He is survived by his mother, Rosemary Kreitler of Clyde, Texas; his wife, Caroline Kreitler of Abilene, Texas, and their son, Dale Kreitler, and his wife, Lauren, on Long Island, New York; and their daughter, Connie Kreitler of Los Angeles, California; and his sister-in-law, Catherine Raveia of Fairfax, Virginia, and her husband Dan. Bruce is very lovingly survived by his beloved brothers, Matt Kreitler of Merkel, and his wife, Mary; Doug Kreitler of Potosi, and his wife Katie; and Steve Kreitler of Clyde, and his wife Tina; along with nephews and a niece.
Bruce truly enjoyed attending church socials with his wife and to do Bible study in Sunday school with discussions of how to know and become closer to God, with church members who were dear friends who deeply felt like family.
Besides selecting Caroline as his only life's mate which lasted for 40 years of marriage, the second biggest decision Bruce did was choosing to repent of his sins and accept Jesus Christ into his heart as Lord and Savior to where, at the resurrection, his family and friends will have the hope of knowing they will see his soul for all of Eternity in Heaven as Christian believers in God's love, power, and glory.
Bruce Kreitler was the perfect husband and father.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Southwest Park Baptist Church.