Bruce Griese

Our beloved son and brother, Bruce J. Griese, age 66, passed away on September 4, 2021 in Beaver, PA.

Bruce was born at the Algoma Hospital on August 3, 1955.  His parents were the late John Griese and the former Shirley Kwasny (Griese) (Brusky).

Bruce attended Holy Rosary and Kewaunee High School.  At about the age of 22, he moved to Coraopolis, PA, then to Beaver Falls, PA.  He worked at the same steel mill for forty-three years and would have retired in October of this year.  Bruce missed Kewaunee and his friends here.  He always visited them on his trips home.  Our nickname for the group, The Rat Pack, includes Hokey, Kitty, Helen, Dubs and Pat.  Hope I didn’t miss any.

Bruce was in good health, usual aches and pains of aging!! His grandson and Ron’s father were always doing heavy projects.  Remodeling - always removed huge trees that washed out, replaced a long section of wall with heavy concrete blocks!  He was in decent heath and very active.  A death that should not have happened.  Thankfully, he lived a full life.  He loved to fish and hunt. Caught a “small” shark on the Atlantic Ocean in spring.  Also enjoyed golfing.  On his trips home, he always had Kroll’s hamburgers and the Kewaunee Pastry Shoppe kolaches.

Bruce was cremated and laid to rest in Beaver, PA.  A Mass will be said for him on November 14 at 10:15 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church in Kewaunee.  A memorial service will be held in June 2022.

He was preceded in death by his father, John H. Griese, and one brother, Sgt Louis Griese, killed in Iraq.  Also, grandparents, Clarence and Dorothy Kwasny, Grandpa Harold Griese, step grandfather, Floyd Jacobs,  grandma, Mabel (Younk) (Griese) Jacobs, step grandparents, Daniel and Ruth Brusky, several  cousins and many aunts and uncles.

Bruce is survived by his wife, June whom he married on April 29, 1995, his only child, Angela (husband, Wayne) Griese and three grandsons, Ronald (Rayann), Jesse and Maxwell, great grandson, baby Trent, his mother, Shirley (Kwasny) (Griese) Brusky and step-father, Daniel Brusky, eight brothers and sisters, Keith (Debbie) Griese, Wendy (Steve) Eslinger, Cindy (Dan) Paschke, Dale (Connie) Griese, Dove Griese and Dennis Berkovitz, Melody (Chad) Simpson, Brandon (Sally) Griese, Tiffany (Brusky) (Brian) Gates and step-sister, Samantha Avery.  Also ex-wife Paula, mother of his only child, aunts, uncles cousins, many nieces and nephews.

Bruce died from complications of Covid-19, on the birthday of his only child.  After a farewell party for someone leaving the military, six people including a three month old baby became ill.  Later another one had to be hospitalized.  In the following days, at three separate places, four more in their relation, including a one year old also got it.  A thirty-four old mother died.  Two deaths out of ten relatives.

These all could have been avoided! Get vaccinated! It’s no different than all the childhood shots and vaccines you and your kids have gotten since babyhood. No excuses! No difference if it’s a shot or taken as a pill - still medicine. What about all the other stuff you put in your bodies, for instance, smoking, drinking and drugs? These people could still be with us.

I received a last letter from Bruce the day he died.