Trending
NIAGARA, Wis. -- Bruce S. Secrist, 85, of Niagara, passed away, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, at Pinecrest Medical Care Facility in Powers.
Bruce was born on Jan. 1, 1941, in Kingsford, son of the late Vernon and Ann (Ayotte) Secrist. A 1959 Kingsford High School graduate, Bruce served in the U.S. Army for two years and was in the Michigan Army National Guard for several years. Bruce attended Northern Michigan University, where he obtained his master's degree in education. He married Marlene Hannula on Feb. 5, 1966, at American Martyrs Catholic Church in Kingsford.
A lifelong resident of the area, Bruce was a social studies/history teacher at the Breitung Township School District for more than 30 years before retiring in 1996; 25 of those years were spent coaching: Little League and Babe Ruth baseball; girls track; freshman, JV and varsity football; and middle school basketball. He was also an announcer for wrestling and football.
Bruce also taught sociology for Bay College and served as the president of the teacher's union and as president of the Breitung Township School Board. In his free time, he enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing and going to his camp "Zeke's Buck-n-Ham Palace," along with woodworking, remodeling, gardening and golfing; he was a member of Oak Crest Golf Course. He especially enjoyed traveling with Marlene and their traveling companions, Barb and Tom Gauthier.
Bruce is survived by his loving wife, Marlene; his three children, Natalie (Tim) McCauley, Kellie Sexton and Brett Secrist (Danielle Chartier); a brother, Donald (Barbara) Secrist; a sister, Connie Secrist (Dwight Bosselman); seven wonderful grandchildren, Kim and Ellen McCauley, Kyle, Shawn and Olivia Sexton, Corey Williams and Matthew Secrist, Ashley Munk and Brittany Aspelund; four great-grandchildren, Kinnley and Kora, Zeke and Lexi; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Edward "Sonny" Secrist, Marvin "Choppy" Secrist and Roger Secrist; two sisters, Arlene Hyland and Doris "Chickie" Hoynacke; mother and father-in-law, Jack and Marie Hannula; and a son-in-law, Chuck Munk.
Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain, followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Andy Filizetti will officiate. Burial will be in Quinnesec Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Pinecrest Medical Care Facility and U.P. Health Care and Hospice for their compassionate care of Bruce.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bruce's memory to the Kingsford Flivver JV Football Team.
Condolences may be expressed to the family of Bruce S. Secrist online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.
The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.