HILLTOWNS — Bruce James Larsen died on Monday, March 9, peacefully at home, surrounded by family after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born on Aug. 7, 1949, he was 76.

“Bruce was, in every sense of the phrase, one of the last real men,” his family wrote in a tribute. 

“He graduated from Berne-Knox-Westerlo in 1968,” his family wrote. “A proud Navy veteran, he carried the discipline and quiet strength of his service with him long after his time in uniform ended.

“He was the kind of man who believed in hard work, in keeping your word, and in showing up. Bruce retired from Hannay Reels in 2015 after over 40 years of service.

“A cowboy at heart, he loved horses, open skies, and country music that told the truth about life.

“He could take apart a car engine and put it back together like it was second nature, hands steady and sure. He was the kind of man you called when you were stranded on the side of the road, and he’d jerry-rig a fuse box with a paper clip — or secure your muffler with a coat hanger, and make sure you got where you were going. Truthfully, a real-life ‘MacGyver.’

“But more than anything, he was a great father.

“He loved without condition.

“The measure of a man is often seen in who stands beside him at the end. Bruce’s life was rich with the family he built and the friendships he nurtured.

“He didn’t just fill roles — he built bonds that lasted.

“He leaves behind a legacy of strength, loyalty, and love. His family will carry forward his work ethic, his stubborn streak, his stories, and the steady example he set every day.

“He is survived by his wife, Adelaide; children, Jason (Jodi), Laura (Dan), Samantha (Chris), Morgan and his stepchildren Jimmy and Donnie. Bruce was also ‘Papa’ to seven grandchildren.

“He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.”

“Oh, the last goodbye’s the hardest one to say, this is where the cowboy rides away.” — George Strait