Victor "Bruce" Vreeland

V. Bruce Vreeland, 90, of Richland, Michigan passed away on February 2, 2019 at home, after a long illness, with family at his side.
Bruce was born to Clara (Seller) and Wendell Vreeland on December 10, 1928 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He grew up in the Detroit area and spent summers at Wall Lake, Delton, Michigan.

Bruce earned 3 degrees at the University of Michigan, a Bachelor's degree in 1951, a Masters Degree in 1952 and a Doctorate in Education and Psychology in 1969. He was a letterman in track during his undergraduate years.

He enjoyed working as a school social worker for a number of years prior to joining the staff at the Battle Creek, MI VA Medical Center as a Clinical Psychologist. Bruce retired in 1994.

Bruce was an avid outdoors-man and had a strong connection to nature. He enjoyed sailing for the majority of his life, which he learned on Wall Lake. He was an accomplished black and white landscape photographer using dark room processes. He displayed and sold his work in local shows and venues. Bruce loved multiple genres of music and played the Mountain Dulcimer, drums and flute. He also enjoyed making woodworked canes and walking sticks, as well as decorative art gourds.

Bruce is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Robert Vreeland.

He is survived by his partner of 22 years, Ellen Watters Abriel, his children: Christopher (Shannon Swick) Vreeland of Marshall, MI, Cynthia (Peter Savalis) Vreeland of Mansfield, MA, Jonathon Vreeland of Sarasota, FL and Sarah (Charles) Blaine of Richland, MI, and grandchildren Joshua Vreeland and Emery Blaine. He is also survived by a brother, Charles (Linda) Vreeland of Gaylord, Michigan.

A memorial service to celebrate Bruce's life will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 8, 2019 at Spruce Lodge. Spruce Lodge is located within the W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary at 12685 East C Avenue, Augusta, MI 49012. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to No Kid Hungry.
https://secure.nokidhungry.org. Arrangements by the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Richland Chapel. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.