Marlowe Bruch passed away January 4, 2015, surrounded by his family.
Marlowe was born on June 1, 1939 in Kalispell, MT. The youngest of two children, he was throughout his life jokingly referred to by his older sister Virginia Dennison, as the spoiled one or mom’s favorite. An indictment he always rebutted with a smile and the same explanation; if that were true, then it was only because he allowed himself to be spoiled.
His parents were Kenneth and Barbara Bruch. Both were products of the Great Depression where money and opportunity were often scarce. The constant challenges of that era, galvanized them into tough, honest, hard-working people. Marlowe often reminisced about his parents, describing them as perfect. The memory always brought a smile and a tear to his eye.
For a time after his birth, they lived in Bigfork, but in the early 40s they moved to Kila, where his dad sawed timber with his uncle Ory Henry during and after the war. Marlowe loved growing up in Kila, at the time the town was filled with cousins, Chuck and Leroy Funk would remain lifelong friends, he was especially fond of his uncle Herold ‘Tubby’ Bruch who took him everywhere.
Marlowe played softball for several years with the Kila team, teaching himself how to hit by throwing small pebbles into the air and hitting them with a stick. This method seemed to work, in his teenage age years while playing hardball in Kalispell, he had the highest batting average in the entire league.
He joined Army National Guard in 1956 , serving eleven years. In 1964 he was called to duty to help evacuated the evergreen area from the rapidly rising flood waters. During this era he also worked at Daley’s Tire Shop. The intense work put 40 lbs of muscle on his formerly wily frame during his senior year at Flathead High..
Marlowe first saw the love of his life, Frances Carpenter, in the summer of 1958, as she swam with friends from the bridge that crosses Ashley Creek . They were married on May 9 th 1959. They bought an old post office building, built in the 1890’s, and moved it to 30 acres they bought in Smith Valley. He immediately went to work improving their new ‘house’, it wasn’t long before it was a home.
They would eventually have four children, all born in the 60’s Rene’, Kevin, Carla and Shawn. It was in the midst of this happiness that tragedy struck. His mother, Barbara died while saving the life of a little girl from a runaway truck.
In the years after his mother’s passing, he cut timber often seeking advice and knowledge from his dad. Eventually they logged together. It wasn’t to last, Kenneth passed away in August 1973. Marlowe always felt blessed to have gotten the chance to work with his dad, as it allowed him to know him as a friend.
He started his own logging company in the late 70’s and as the years passed he formed countless friendships with those who worked with him.
On September 10, 1990, Marlowe was the victum of a horrific logging accident, in which he incurred a massive head injury. Against all odds he would miraculously fuly recover.
Surviving is his wife, Frances, of 55 years; daughters, Rene' and Ross Bishop, and Carla Bruch; sons, Kevin and Carrie Bruch, and Shawn and Sherrie Bruch; all of Kalispell; his sister, Virginia Dennison, grandchildren, Adam Bishop, Nicole Randall, Brittany Wyant, Skyler Bishop, Joshua Bruch, Kayla Dreyer, Hailey Bruch, Autumn Bruch, Micheal Bruch and Mason Bruch; great-grandchildren, Madeline Bishop, Dawson Bishop, Avery Wyant, Dylan Wyant, Easton Wyant, Maverick Estes and Orry Randall. We will all miss him and his stories.
A celebration of life will be held will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 10.