Bruce Trowbridge

Bruce Douglas Trowbridge was born in Bloomer Wisconsin on May 27 1942 to Fay and Helen (Halverson) Trowbridge. He was the oldest of 5children: Darrell Trowbridge, Lynn Trowbridge, Dixie Rousar and Roxie Trowbridge. Bruce grew up in New Auburn, Wisconsin, the son of a dairy farmer and carpenter. Bruce milked many cows and built many homes with his father in Chippewa County. He graduated from New Auburn High School in 1960. He married the love of his life, Lynette Black, on April 18, 1962. The couple lived in a house Bruce built with his father on his family’s land. They welcomed a son, Douglas Trowbridge, and lived in the little green cottage on County Highway M. Bruce attended the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree, double majoring in Math and Physics. Upon graduation he accepted a teaching position for a semester in Schofield, Wisconsin. For the following year Bruce taught physics and was an assistant football coach at Bloomer High School. They then moved to Rapid City, SD where Bruce taught as a Graduate Teaching Fellow while he earned a Master’s Degree in Physics from the South Dakota School of Mines. After graduation Bruce took a job with Delco Electronics where he worked for over 30 years. His job brought them to Milwaukee, where Debbie was born in 1971, and then to Goleta, California in 1973just 6 weeks after his youngest daughter Laura was born. As an Engineer for Delco, Bruce was involved with the design of airplane navigation systems, gyroscopes, guidance systems and optical sights to name a few. For several years his main office was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, traveling back and forth to California every few weeks. He managed several large projects, supervising many people. This job afforded Bruce and Lynette the opportunity to travel the world: Paris, Switzerland, Singapore, Holland, Germany and many other European countries. They also took several vacations to Australia to visit Lynette’s relatives, taking the whole family in 1987 and with Debbie and her family in 2016. They traveled to England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, New Zealand and Tasmania, China, Greece, sailed on a Norwegian mail boat up the coast of Norway, and went to Alaska twice-once by boat and once via plane, train and boat with Larry and Judy Black. They really traveled the world together. Bruce and his family took a month to visit family in Wisconsin and Minnesota most every summer, seeing most of the United States and Canada in-between CA and MN. 

On March 11, 2025 Bruce died from Pancreatic Cancer at age 82 at his home in Goleta, California. He is survived by his wife of 62 years Lynette Trowbridge, daughter Debbie Sanders, son-in-law Brian Sanders, daughter-in-law Elisa Trowbridge, son-in-law Jason Jones, and grandchildren: Sierra Lund, Josh Lund, Della Sanders, Grace Sanders, Douglas Trowbridge and Alex Jones. He is predeceased in death by his son Douglas Trowbridge, daughter Laura Jones, sister Roxanne Trowbridge, and parents Fay and Helen Trowbridge.

Bruce attended Christ Lutheran Church in Goleta, California for over 50 years. He was active in both the leadership and the every day life of this congregation. He and Lynette made life long friends while worshipping and ministering with the people of this church. Bruce’s hobbies included deep sea fishing with family and friends on his boat, “Alibi 2”; hosting a charter boat out of San Diego to fish for 200+pound Tuna; hunting with his brothers and nephews in several different states; woodworking-inspired by his father, he created many beautiful pieces displayed in his home and given as gifts; stained glass-inspired by his mother’s talents, he crafted several lamp shades in his home, mirrors for the granddaughters, and other hanging pieces; home improvement projects at his home as well as Elisa and Debbie’s houses; and attending any event that his grandkids were involved with – soccer, softball and football games, school plays and assemblies, marching band competitions, dance recitals, trips for ice cream - if his grandkids were involved, Papa was always there. Bruce was patient, kind, supportive, loving, encouraging, steadfast, dedicated, faithful, and the best husband, Papa and Daddy anyone could ever ask for. We were honored to know him and be a part of his life.

Private services were held in Bloomer and Bruce was laid to rest at the Bloomer Cemetery.