Obituary for Bruce C Hayhoe
Naples Tower: Cherokee 15560 ready for takeoff on Runway 5, destination unknown.
Bruce C. Hayhoe, Sr., age 91, of Naples, FL soared peacefully into his waiting savior's arms on Friday, January 6, 2023. A private pilot since 1969, Bruce flew frequently for business and pleasure, taking joy in journeying to the Green Turtle Club of Abaco, Bahamas. He took off for his final journey, buffeted by a faith he described as "deeper and wider than an ocean," surrounded by his loving family at Avow Hospice in Naples.
Bruce was born September 21, 1931, in Minneapolis, MN to James George Hayhoe and Blanche Conover Hayhoe. He was the youngest of seven children in a family full of love, hard work, joy, faith, and togetherness. With just a single bathroom in the family home, Bruce was last in line each morning to use the facilities - a situation, he liked to joke, that taught him perseverance and self-control.
An inquisitive and eager learner, Bruce graduated from Robbinsdale (MN) High School. While there, he scored a 57-yard drop-kicked field goal, the same year Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints kicked a conventional 57-yarder that set a record in the National Football League. Bruce kept the newspaper clipping of his achievement and pulled it out to show it off so many times that it finally fell apart.
Bruce attended the University of Minnesota and St. Cloud Teacher's College (the latter now known as Minnesota State at St. Cloud) and served proudly in the Korean War when his country called for his service. On August 30, 1952, he married Glenna Meuli of Chippewa Falls, WI. They became parents to four children, who survive him: Bruce C., Jr. (Karen) of Chippewa Falls, WI, Elizabeth McNichols (Joe) of Naples, FL, Julie Johnson of Naples, FL, and Jane Hodgin (Derek) of Clemson, SC. Wife Glenna also survives her husband of 70 years. Bruce was a proud grandfather to 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Prior to his move with Glenna and family to Naples in 1972, Bruce held marketing management positions in various firms. Once settled in Naples, he joined in partnership with another entrepreneur to open rental car services in six Florida cities. The successful venture grew to include car rental/hotel booking partnerships with Holiday Inns.
After several years of intensive business travel, Bruce changed his career path and became a licensed real estate broker. In this new career, he developed office parks, residential condominiums, self-storage facilities, and other entities in Naples, Cashiers, NC, and Wisconsin. Together with wife Glenna, in 1988 Bruce established Woods and Water Realty in Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire, WI.
In 1983, Bruce and Glenna Hayhoe turned their entrepreneurial focus to something their community deeply needed. They founded Avow Hospice, then known as Hospice of Naples, the first hospice in Collier County. While Glenna worked her magic to solicit donated office space, equipment, and volunteer medical services to staff the new agency, Bruce focused on finding property suited for such a special service. He negotiated the purchase of the Avow campus on Whippoorwill Lane, then a dirt road "out in the middle of nowhere" in Naples. That key purchase has allowed Avow to build a campus that is peaceful, serene, and home to the county's only freestanding hospice house.
Bruce loved his country and his community, and he volunteered his time to benefit both. He was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Scottish Rite Zurah Temple (Minneapolis), an active member at Naples Community Church, and an activist for the Naples Military History Museum. One of his greatest passions was increasing affordable housing; he served on a Collier County board to advance that cause. He was also, as wife Glenna remains, a beloved volunteer at Avow. His special love was for veterans at the end of life, many of whom wrestled with both pride and matters of conscience as they prepared to transition. Bruce participated in many Avow salute ceremonies that honor veteran patients and thank them for their service.
A public celebration of Bruce's life is scheduled for Friday, January 20, 2023, at 1:00 PM at the lspiri Community Center on the Avow campus, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples. All are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Avow. Donate on line by clicking here, call 239-261-4404 or send checks to Avow at 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34105.
Bruce C. Hayhoe, Sr., age 91, of Naples, FL soared peacefully into his waiting savior's arms on Friday, January 6, 2023. A private pilot since 1969, Bruce flew frequently for business and pleasure, taking joy in journeying to the Green Turtle Club of Abaco, Bahamas. He took off for his final journey, buffeted by a faith he described as "deeper and wider than an ocean," surrounded by his loving family at Avow Hospice in Naples.
Bruce was born September 21, 1931, in Minneapolis, MN to James George Hayhoe and Blanche Conover Hayhoe. He was the youngest of seven children in a family full of love, hard work, joy, faith, and togetherness. With just a single bathroom in the family home, Bruce was last in line each morning to use the facilities - a situation, he liked to joke, that taught him perseverance and self-control.
An inquisitive and eager learner, Bruce graduated from Robbinsdale (MN) High School. While there, he scored a 57-yard drop-kicked field goal, the same year Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints kicked a conventional 57-yarder that set a record in the National Football League. Bruce kept the newspaper clipping of his achievement and pulled it out to show it off so many times that it finally fell apart.
Bruce attended the University of Minnesota and St. Cloud Teacher's College (the latter now known as Minnesota State at St. Cloud) and served proudly in the Korean War when his country called for his service. On August 30, 1952, he married Glenna Meuli of Chippewa Falls, WI. They became parents to four children, who survive him: Bruce C., Jr. (Karen) of Chippewa Falls, WI, Elizabeth McNichols (Joe) of Naples, FL, Julie Johnson of Naples, FL, and Jane Hodgin (Derek) of Clemson, SC. Wife Glenna also survives her husband of 70 years. Bruce was a proud grandfather to 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Prior to his move with Glenna and family to Naples in 1972, Bruce held marketing management positions in various firms. Once settled in Naples, he joined in partnership with another entrepreneur to open rental car services in six Florida cities. The successful venture grew to include car rental/hotel booking partnerships with Holiday Inns.
After several years of intensive business travel, Bruce changed his career path and became a licensed real estate broker. In this new career, he developed office parks, residential condominiums, self-storage facilities, and other entities in Naples, Cashiers, NC, and Wisconsin. Together with wife Glenna, in 1988 Bruce established Woods and Water Realty in Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire, WI.
In 1983, Bruce and Glenna Hayhoe turned their entrepreneurial focus to something their community deeply needed. They founded Avow Hospice, then known as Hospice of Naples, the first hospice in Collier County. While Glenna worked her magic to solicit donated office space, equipment, and volunteer medical services to staff the new agency, Bruce focused on finding property suited for such a special service. He negotiated the purchase of the Avow campus on Whippoorwill Lane, then a dirt road "out in the middle of nowhere" in Naples. That key purchase has allowed Avow to build a campus that is peaceful, serene, and home to the county's only freestanding hospice house.
Bruce loved his country and his community, and he volunteered his time to benefit both. He was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Scottish Rite Zurah Temple (Minneapolis), an active member at Naples Community Church, and an activist for the Naples Military History Museum. One of his greatest passions was increasing affordable housing; he served on a Collier County board to advance that cause. He was also, as wife Glenna remains, a beloved volunteer at Avow. His special love was for veterans at the end of life, many of whom wrestled with both pride and matters of conscience as they prepared to transition. Bruce participated in many Avow salute ceremonies that honor veteran patients and thank them for their service.
A public celebration of Bruce's life is scheduled for Friday, January 20, 2023, at 1:00 PM at the lspiri Community Center on the Avow campus, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples. All are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Avow. Donate on line by clicking here, call 239-261-4404 or send checks to Avow at 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34105.