Bruce Janssen

Dr. Bruce R. Janssen, age 74, passed away unexpectedly at Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff, Wisconsin on Wednesday, August 11th. He was born in Green Bay on October 21, 1935 to Dr. John and Ann Janssen. He attended St. Matthews Grade School and Central Catholic High School where he participated in football, all the drama productions, and also served as class president. He completed a Bachelor of Science degree from Marquette University and went on to graduate from Marquette Dental School in 1960. He married Marianne S. Skogg on December 27, 1957. He served a three year internship with the United States Air Force at Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii. During his last year in Hawaii, he served as Dental Chief at Wheeler Air Force Base. It was in Hawaii that he developed his love of the water, learning how to surf and scuba dive. This passion remained with him the rest of his life, diving in many of the northern Wisconsin lakes. Upon moving back to Green Bay in 1963, he practiced dentistry with his father Dr J.C. Janssen for 20 years. After the death of his father, his son Craig joined the practice and they worked together for the next 13 years. During these years he was a charter member of Resurrection Catholic Church and after moving to DePere, served on the parish council and was a lector for St. Francis Church. He was also a lifetime member of the Brown-Door-Kewanee Dental Society. Bruce retired in 1998, moving to Manitowish Waters with his wife to enjoy the area he had been visiting for his entire life. Bruce made the most of his retirement, pursuing outdoor sporting and recreational activities, as well as civic activities. His love of the outdoors had him fishing, hunting, biking, kayaking, and scuba diving with family and friends. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and road tripping to support their activities. He was a member of the Northwoods Ski and Touring Association where he co-chaired the biking and kayaking group. He planned many memorable overnight trips for the club. At the age of 66, he took up downhill skiing, meeting his ski buddies at Powderhorn every Wednesday. Despite suffering a broken leg and a near brush with death, his determination drove him back to the ski slopes once he was healed. Bruce gave a tremendous amount of time and energy to charitable causes. As a Manitowish Lions Club member, he served on the board of directors, chaired highway cleanup, called bingo, and managed the salad bar for the pork chop dinners. He received the Melvin Jones award for his outstanding contributions to the club. At Holy Family Catholic Church he was a lector, commentator and Eucharistic minister. He was a weekly volunteer at the food pantry and also served as president for the Lakeland Performing Arts Association. He worked tirelessly as a passionate advocate for the Highway 51 Corridor Bike Trail which will hopefully become a reality someday. Survivors include: His wife of 51 years, Marianne; son Dr. Craig Janssen (fiancé Mary) and his two sons Eric and Evan all of Green Bay; son Kevin Janssen (Jill) and their son Nicholas; son Dr. Brian Janssen of Dallas, TX; daughter Erin Huemer (Hartwig) and their two daughters Kayla and Kiara of Mount Horeb, WI; brother Dr. John Janssen (Delores) of Fond du Lac; sister Katherine Reynolds of Valpraiso, IN; brother in law Tom Skogg (Marilyn) of Green Bay; sisters-in-law Julianne Neufeld of Payson, AZ and Patricia Skogg of Green Bay. Many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Ann Janssen. Bruce was incredibly grateful for and loved the fabulous group of friends that surrounded him in the north woods during his retirement years. We thank all of you for bringing so much joy, fun, and laughter into his life. The family also wishes to thank all of the staff at Howard Young Medical Center for their efforts. A memorial service will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church at 11am on Saturday, August 14th, 2010. Visitation at the church will begin at 9:30am. Father James Hoffman will preside. A luncheon will follow. Condolences may be sent to www.bolgerfuneral.com. A memorial fund has been established with the Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters to fund wildlife and outdoor recreational activities. Donations can be sent to North Lakeland Discovery Center, P.O. Box 237, Manitowish Waters, WI, 54545. Bruce will be remembered for his steadfast faith in the Lord, his selfless and humble spirit, his positive outlook on life, his amazing work ethic, and his willingness to always lend a hand.

Bruce Janssen

October 21, 1935 - August 11, 2010