Bruce Unverzagt

After a hard-fought battle with cancer over the last five years, Bruce James Unverzagt transitioned from this life on May 18, 2025, in his home in Broomfield, Colorado. He passed in the presence of his wife, surrounded by her love, and the love of family and friends, both near and far. We celebrate his life.

Bruce was born on August 5, 1948, in Austin, Minnesota, to Elaine and Robert Unverzagt Sr. He spent his early years living in Austin, before moving with his family to a farm in rural Dexter, Minnesota. The middle child of five, Bruce was bright, hard-working, and strong-willed. As a student at Elkton High School, class of 1966, he described his favorite song as “Monday, Monday,” and his favorite pastime as “working.” Bruce was a lover of science and math, a member of the National Honor Society, a football player, and the senior homecoming king.

After graduating, Bruce attended the Austin Vocational College, where he studied electronics. Following his desire to become an electronics engineer, Bruce went on to work at IBM, where he received promotions and praise for his outstanding performance as an electronics technician.

Bruce began his career in Rochester, Minnesota, and then transferred to Boca Raton, Florida, and, ultimately, to Boulder, Colorado, where he spent much of his life. After his retirement from IBM, Bruce worked as an independent contractor, until fully retiring in 2020.

Bruce loved the outdoors—the back roads, the scenic route, camping, a hike through the mountains to catch a glimpse of a bear (up close), a walk through the deserts of Arizona, a stroll around the neighborhood to take in the sun (and a nice rock—or two, or three—to take home).

He could name every tree and any bird in the sky, and would make sure to leave food for the ones that visited his yard, as well as for the occasional fox. He could spend hours watching the birds fly and the light dance over the Rockies.

Bruce filled his life with the people, experiences, and things that he loved. Just as his favorite birds would fly south for the winter, Bruce would vacation in his favorite parts of Arizona when Colorado became too cold. He was a collector of interesting trinkets that made his space feel authentic to who he was—a wooden alligator, a toy John Deere tractor, a family of stone turtles, a geode. He would attend golf tournaments and return with more than a few golf balls, and would spend days at Colorado’s annual stock show. He loved an Eddie Bauer ensemble, a good hiking boot, and a neat flashlight or pocket knife that turned into some other useful tool. Bruce lived his life in daily recognition of and appreciation for its small pleasures.

He was a beloved grandparent who played with just as much enthusiasm as the youngest grandkid. He could, and would, talk to anyone, with genuine interest. For his family, Bruce was a constant source of love, support, and advice. He was the patriarch.

Over the course of his life, Bruce developed a strong faith. He believed in a heaven after this well-lived life.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Joann; his children, Laura (Kevin), Mark (Heather), Marcus, and Shari; nine grandchildren; his siblings and siblings-in-law, Robert Jr. (Ginger), Karen (Earl), William (Karen), Lynette (Bruce), Barbara, Jessie, Alma, Gloria, Ethelene, Rose, Carol, Cassandra, and Linda; and nine nieces and nephews. He is further survived by other relatives and friends. 

Bruce is preceded in death by his mother, Elaine, his father, Robert Sr., and his stepmother, Vivian. 

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will bе saved. Romans 10:9

God Saw You Getting Tired

               – Author Unknown

God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be, so He put His arms around you and whispered, “Come to Me”.

With tearful eyes we watched you and saw you pass away and although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

Acknowledgments-

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your love, support, and kindness during this difficult time.