Bruce Clifford Glaefke Passes Away Feb. 6

By  //  February 20, 2015

Obituaries

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Bruce Clifford Glaefke, 67, was born on Jan. 19, 1948 in Hennepin, Minnesota to Howard and Patricia Glaefke.

Bruce Clifford Glaefke
Bruce Clifford Glaefke

He passed away from natural causes in his home on Feb. 6, 2015, and is survived by many.

My personal time knowing Bruce was brief. We met through my job about a year and a half ago, and he was one of my favorite customers, and later he became a true friend and somewhat of a surrogate father.

We began to hang out at his place from time to time, not long after meeting him at work. I thought he was a very fascinating person, and since he was relatively new to the area, he needed a friend.

I was more than happy to oblige, and the rest is history, as they say.

Bruce was the kind of person that had the power to instantly lift your mood and spirit once he entered the room. He had such a beautiful, infectious smile, it really was contagious.

Beneath that smile was a spirit unlike any other. His brother Jonathan, married to Cecilia (two very close friends to Bruce for several years), once said that Bruce was an “otherworldly saint,” an accurate description.

He was angelic in nature, what one could genuinely call altruistic at times, not a bad vibe to be seen, always willing to help someone in need, and asking nothing in return but good friendship, good conversation, or both.

I loved listening to Bruce tell car stories and old stories about racing super fast boats with his other brother, Barney.

Bruce was also a patriot, he believed in his country, and loved and stood up for it until the day he passed.

He was also a total car nut and racing fan. He loved races of all sorts, NASCAR, Formula One, he even loved the Isle of Man circuit race, you name it, he was on top of it.

“I loved listening to Bruce tell car stories and old stories about racing super fast boats with his other brother, Barney”

At one point or another in his life, he did about everything a man can do with a car: worked on them, detailed them, customized and modified them, even sold them for a while. Cars were one of his passions and hobbies.

Bruce had a funny way of adopting people, as what he liked to call his “surrogate kids and siblings.”

He touched so many lives and brought so much joy to so many people, his death wasn’t just a loss for his friends and ever-growing family, it was a loss for society, and he will be dearly missed.

Bruce was cremated and his immediate family have taken the remains back to his birthplace in Minnesota.

Regrettably, there will be no funeral in Vero Beach, but those that knew him here can always take comfort in knowing that he is free of pain and smiling down on us all, wanting us to be happy, and rock on.