Memorial Day is a day set aside to reflect on those who made sacrifices to preserve our country and the freedoms we enjoy. This Memorial Day has even more impact because of a friend who died last month. Knowing Bruce served in the U.S. Navy, it seems like the ideal time to think about Bruce and the way he helped make lives better and our paths easier.
Bruce Brekke lived in Eagan for quite a while and interacted with a variety of groups within our community. He met on a regular basis with a group for coffee, his neighbors knew him as the fix-it guy, and many of us knew him because of his firm belief in a government that should help its citizens. Bruce was an avid reader, so discussions with him were always interesting. I knew him best as someone who supported government that works for all. He had strong convictions, which he backed up with facts and action. Bruce was always willing to help. One of my last memories of Bruce was at the DFL Endorsing Convention on March 24. It was late afternoon and the convention had yet to endorse a candidate for the senate. Bruce had been having trouble with coughing, so he and his wife, Marcia, were planning to leave. Needless to say, they were encouraged to stay a while longer, and they did. A few days later, Bruce received the news that he had lung cancer. He died on April 10th.
One unique part of the Celebration of the Life of Bruce Higham Brekke was the distribution of Bruce’s tee shirts. He had a large collection of shirts, many from his travels, but even more with puns and quotes. This gave everyone the opportunity to have a visual souvenir of this very special man.
We were so fortunate to have known Bruce and to have him as part of our lives. We lost a good friend, a good neighbor, a champion for progressive values.