Final Salute

Bruce Michael Saunders, passed away at the age of 78, on March 12, 2025. He was born on October 28, 1947 in Buffalo, New York and spent his first few years at Father Baker’s Orphanage. He was adopted by Walter and Betty Saunders at the age of two. Bruce grew up on a 320 acre farm in Franklinville, New York. He went to Franklinville High School and was a football and wrestling star. Right out of school he joined the Navy and served as a Navy Seabee on the USS Independence during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1968. After Vietnam he met his soon to be wife Betsy while they were both working at Fisher Price. What sealed the deal for him was he fell in love with her as much as he did with the two children she had from a previous marriage and loved those kids as his own. The two were married on October 10, 1970 in West Falls, New York and together they built a life filled with love. They had the kind of marriage people can only dream about. They raised three children together in Shelby Township, Michigan while running their own landscaping business. They then moved to Florida where they owned a home on a golf course in Bonita Springs, Florida where they enjoyed golfing everyday before moving back to Michigan. Bruce was a strong and proud man who loved golfing and sports but most of all his wife and family. Unfortunately, Bruce was diagnosed with brain cancer and died from complications.
He is predeceased by his wife Betsy who passed away weeks before his death on February 16, 2025. Bruce leaves behind his three children, Kimberley Saunders (Richard Wirsing), Michael Saunders and Bruce Saunders Jr. (Catherine Radloff), and his daughter-in-law Kelly Saunders. Bruce was also a loving and proud grandfather to Lindsey Moore (Michael) and Courtney Saunders and his great grandchildren Madilyn, Isabella, and Michael. His brother Robert Saunders (Shelley), sisters Kim Saunders (Lori) and Kellie Dunne (Gene) and foster brother Dennis Gagliardi.
Memorial visitation will be Saturday, March 22, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. until the time of his Military Honors rendered by the United States Navy and Memorial Service at 4:00 p.m. by Father Michael Quaine from St. Michaels Catholic Church taking place at the Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, 8459 Hall Road (3 blocks EAST of Van Dyke Avenue, on the NORTH side of Hall Road), Utica. Burial will take place on Monday, March 24, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Great Lakes National Cemetery located at 4200 Belford Rd, Holly, MI where he will be buried and united with his wife and the two will be together again. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
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