Bruce Sieben

Bruce Sieben was born October 5, 1943 to parents Leo and Ethel (nee Hoffman) Sieben in San Luis Obispo, CA. Bruce has been married to Donna Taffin-Sieben for 26 years. Bruce is survived by his 3 children – Chris Sieben, Jeff Sieben, and Jeanne McFadden. His daughter, Elizabeth Sieben, had predeceased her father. He has 3 sisters, Phyllis Straff (Ronald), Margaret Allavoine (Gerard), and Lynn Sieben-Bremer (Michael).

He has 8 grandchildren; and 7 nieces and nephews.

He grew up in Chicago and attended St. Angeles grade school. He then attended St. Patrick High School and went on to St. Mary's University in Winona, MN. Bruce's father and uncles owned and operated the well-known Sieben's Brewery on Larrabee St. in Chicago, IL.

While in Chicago, Bruce worked for IBM as a Systems engineer. Then he was offered a position with Merrill Lynch where he rose to First Vice President of Telecommunications and Information Services in New York City.

Bruce was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1999. Bruce kept active and left corporate life to volunteer with the Master Gardeners program of Rutgers cooperative extension in NJ. He built database for the volunteers to pull information on various subjects which aided in reducing time searching for information. The database is still being used today.

Bruce was an avid train enthusiast, with a particular love for Garden Trains. What began as a hobby, turned into something truly magical in our NJ backyard. From bare ground, he brought to life a garden masterpiece. Every stone, every flower, every tiny house and winding tunnel was placed with care. A gentle waterfall, and among the blooms and greenery, G Scale locomotives traced the paths of his dreams. He would spend hours out there – tinkering, planting, adjusting tracks, and making sure every detail was just right.

Bruce's love for gardening mirrored his approach to life: patient, nurturing, and ever-curious. Whether coaxing blooms from stubborn soil or designing intricate model train layouts that wound gracefully through his backyard, he brought meticulous care and quiet delight to all he touched. Friends recall afternoons spent in lively conversation among the flower beds, where Bruce's wit and generosity flourished as brightly as his desires. His legacy is seen in the flourishing gardens he tended, and in the gentle wisdom he shared with fellow volunteers and neighbors alike.

Children and adults alike were drawn in by its charm. Neighbors would often stop by to marvel at his work, and he loved sharing stories about the engines, the scenery, and the joy it brought him.

Though the trains may rest now, the tracks he laid – in our garden and in our hearts – will forever remain.