Bruce R. Hodgson

April 2, 1934 - May 3, 2011

Bruce R. Hodgson of Cadillac went to be with his Lord and savior Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2011 after battling heart disease for many years. He was born on April 2, 1934 in Cadillac where he lived most of his life and attended Cadillac Schools and graduated from Bear Lake High School. There he met and married his high school sweetheart, Helen Marie Girven in 1952 and she preceded him in death. In 1991 he married Carolyn Burkett Adams of Evart and they would have celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary this September. Bruce began his truck driving career with Cadillac Concrete Co. and J.D. Aten Trucking before becoming an owner/operator with Key Line Freight. In his retirement years he was an estimator with CJ\'s Excavating of Cadillac. He was a member of the Berean Bible Church where he served a number of years as deacon and elder and in the last ten years he regularly attended Evergreen Baptist Church in Cadillac where he enjoyed worshipping with many close friends. Bruce was a charter member of the Great Lakes Two Cylinder Club as well as a volunteer for many years with Hospice of Michigan. He was an avid collector and restorer of vintage John Deere tractors and was known as a guy who could fix anything that had a motor. He enjoyed going to Buckley for the Old Engine Show and would bring his tractors for display. Family and friends were very important to him and he gave his children, grandchildren, friends and family many enjoyable hours by sharing his “Hidden Lake Park†for Memorial Day and Labor Day, breakfasts, picnics, tractor rides, pumpkin patch field trips, family reunions and church gatherings. He will be missed by his wife, Carolyn along with his mother, Marcella (Eley) Hodgson and sister, Meril Mattson & Floyd Kanipe all of Cadillac. Bruce and Carolyn have eight surviving children together: Ronald Hodgson of Kentwood, Steve (Laurie) Hodgson of Colorado Springs, CO, Terry Hodgson of Cadillac, Sherri (Mike) Bishop of Rockford, Dan (Diana) Hodgson of Cadillac, Jazanne McMillen of Gallatin Gateway, MT, Cheryl McMillen (Connie Juntenen) of Falls Church, VA, and Mitchell McMillen (Lisa Durba) of New Milford, CT; daughter-in-law, Lisa McMillen of Rochester, IN; 19 grandchildren: Tom (Emily) Hodgson, Robert (Kelly) Hodgson, Brie (Drew) Lucas, Chelsea (Bennett) Eggar, Brock Hodgson, Jeff Hodgson & Fiancé Amber, Jake Hodgson, Ben (Stephanie) Hodgson, Curt (Alisha) Hodgson, Taylor Bishop, Megan Bishop, Heather Hodgson (Carlos Bernal), Amber (Kraig) Youngs, Daniel Hodgson, Jennifer Hodgson, Melea McMillen, Garrett McMillen, Alex McMillen, and Erin McMillen; 12 great grandchildren: Owen Hodgson, McKinley Lucas, Braden & Caleb Eggar, Cody, Ethan & Allie Hodgson, Morgan & Sage Hodgson, Victoria Bernal, Hayden & Skylar Youngs, and one more to be born in July. In addition to his first wife he was preceded in death by his father, Sidney Hodgson, brother-in-law, Elwood “Woody†Mattson, son, Greg McMillen, great grandsons, Isaiah Nathaniel Hodgson and Blaine Gregory McMillen. Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, May 7, 2011 at the Peterson Funeral Home in Cadillac with Pastor David Cummings officiating. Burial will be at Clam Lake Township Cemetery with a luncheon to follow at the Township hall. Visitation will be on Friday from 2-4 & 6-8 PM at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Berean Bible Society (P.O. Box 756, Germantown, WI 53022) or to Bible Doctrines to Live By (P.O. Box 564 Comstock Park, MI 49327). An online guestbook is available at www.petersonfh.com.