Bruce Heilesen
June 9, 1951 — April 9, 2018
Bruce Richard Heilesen, son of Richard and Darlene (Jensen) Heilesen, was born on June 9, 1951 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was baptized at the United Methodist Church in Irwin, Iowa and confirmed at the First United Methodist Church in Harlan, Iowa. Bruce started school at Center Township Country School outside of Harlan and then attended New Park and Laurel elementary schools in Harlan. He then attended junior high and high school in Harlan, graduating with the class of 1969. After high school, he attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa for one year.
Bruce then returned home to work with his father on their family farm in rural Harlan, Iowa where he continued to farm for forty years. Bruce also worked as a master electrician for J. P. Electric out of Harlan for over ten years.
Bruce loved living life as a free spirit and fell in love with flying his own plane and scuba diving. He became a certified scuba diving instructor and trained many people through the years. He also took great pride in training many of the local fire department members as certified rescue divers for their community. Bruce loved his trips to Mexico with family and friends on their many scuba diving vacations. He was a proud father of two amazing young ladies, Bailey and Johanna, and loved attending their activities, never missing an opportunity to express how proud he was. Despite Bailey having to beg to get a dog, he formed a strong bond with “her” dog, Kiowa. Everyone knows Kiowa was really his dog.
Bruce had a zest for life with a great sense of humor and a calming personality. He made everyone feel at ease in his presence. He always left with a smile on his face and wished everyone to “have a good day!”
Bruce died on April 9, 2018 on the same farm he spent his entire life, in rural Harlan having attained the age of sixty-six years and ten months. He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Heilesen and his sister, Becky Carver. Survivors include his daughters: Bailey Heilesen of Harlan and Johanna and her husband Chad Lyon of Sutherland, Nebraska; their mother, Annie Hammer of Harlan; his mother, Darlene Heilesen of Harlan; his sister, Pat and her husband Don Holdsworth also of Harlan; brother-in-law Lance Carver of Zearing, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
Bruce then returned home to work with his father on their family farm in rural Harlan, Iowa where he continued to farm for forty years. Bruce also worked as a master electrician for J. P. Electric out of Harlan for over ten years.
Bruce loved living life as a free spirit and fell in love with flying his own plane and scuba diving. He became a certified scuba diving instructor and trained many people through the years. He also took great pride in training many of the local fire department members as certified rescue divers for their community. Bruce loved his trips to Mexico with family and friends on their many scuba diving vacations. He was a proud father of two amazing young ladies, Bailey and Johanna, and loved attending their activities, never missing an opportunity to express how proud he was. Despite Bailey having to beg to get a dog, he formed a strong bond with “her” dog, Kiowa. Everyone knows Kiowa was really his dog.
Bruce had a zest for life with a great sense of humor and a calming personality. He made everyone feel at ease in his presence. He always left with a smile on his face and wished everyone to “have a good day!”
Bruce died on April 9, 2018 on the same farm he spent his entire life, in rural Harlan having attained the age of sixty-six years and ten months. He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Heilesen and his sister, Becky Carver. Survivors include his daughters: Bailey Heilesen of Harlan and Johanna and her husband Chad Lyon of Sutherland, Nebraska; their mother, Annie Hammer of Harlan; his mother, Darlene Heilesen of Harlan; his sister, Pat and her husband Don Holdsworth also of Harlan; brother-in-law Lance Carver of Zearing, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
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