Mary Kay Bruce, 62, of West Des Moines and formerly of Perry passed away Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at home surrounded by her family.
Memorial Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 23 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Waukee, with private burial of the urn at Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry. The service will be livestreamed on the Iles website. Go to IlesCares.com at 10:15 a.m. Friday and scroll to the bottom of Mary’s obituary to join in the service.
Mary Kay was born Dec. 10, 1958, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Nick and Mary Bell (Watson) Hanian.
She graduated from Urbandale High School and also AIB College of Business with a BA in business.
Mary Kay started working at Palmer Communications in 1978 and started her own business, Your Secretary, in 1990.
Mary Kay married Douglas Bruce Nov. 14, 1987, and in addition to the family business of Osmundson Mfg. Co., together they had the largest commercial boarding and breeding horse operation in the state of Iowa: Bruce Thoroughbred Farms.
Mary Kay was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church and Glen Oaks Country Club.
She served on several boards, including Hospice of Central Iowa (EveryStep Care and Support Services), West Des Moines Library and Des Moines Diocese School Board.
Mary Kay and Doug loved to travel, and their most recent venture was on a Rhine River cruise.
She was an avid reader and thoroughly enjoyed the ladies of Glen Oaks Book Club.
Mary Kay was a huge fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Drake Bulldogs, Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs. But her greatest joy was her family.
Mary Kay is survived by her husband, Douglas; children, Ashley (Jim) Culp, Heather (Matt Beglin) Bruce, Nick Bruce and Rachel (Joe Jensen) Repp; her sister, Liz (Jay) Timm of Wadsorth, Ohio; and her grandchildren, Kaleb Faas of Ankeny, Tyler Culp of Springfield, Missouri, and Marissa, Bryce and Johnathan Culp of Waukee, and Harrington and Georgia Beglin of Ankeny; and her nieces, Shelby and Lauren Timm.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Spencer Bruce; her wonderful in-laws, Ruie and Donald Bruce; and her special aunt, Fern McKinnon.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 22 at the Iles Westover Chapel at 6337 Hickman Rd. in West Des Moines, where a vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions may be made to St. Boniface Church, 1200 Warrior Lane, Waukee, IA 50263, EveryStep Hospice, 3000 Easton Blvd., Des Moines, Iowa 50317 or a charity of your choice.
