Bruce Albert Gates, 80, of Akron, died Monday, December 2, 2013.
He was born to the late Frank and Margaret Gates on June 14, 1933, outside Akron, CO. Bruce served in the Army in the interwar years between Korea and Vietnam, as a combat heavy engineer.
He applied the skills he learned throughout his adult life building roads and leveling farming land all over Colorado for Goodell Brothers of Eaton. There he and wife Ethel raised five children.
Bruce was an avid hunter, fisherman and archer, and served as President of state and local archery organizations.
Bruce is preceded in death by his life-long love Ethel, son Bruce and daughter Ginger. He is survived by daughters Fernette Kautz and Gail Yelvington and son Brian Gates.
He is also survived by fourteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. at the Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church. Interment will follow at Akron Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center.