W. Bruce Rogers

Our beloved “Mr. Traverse City” took his final ride through Downtown on June 14th and so continued his tradition of driving down Front Steet to make sure “all was well.” Bruce was always delighted to see the stores and restaurants open and crowds of people walking and enjoying Traverse City’s jewel - Downtown. Bruce was born on July 10, 1941, in Detroit, MI to the late Carlysle and Virginia (Forsythe) Rogers. He was named after his Uncle Wendell, however, his Grandmother Rogers insisted he be called by his middle name and so Bruce it was! The family later moved to Pleasant Ridge where Bruce attended Roosevelt Grade School and Ferndale High School, class of “59. Classmates since kindergarten continue to enjoy reunions together. While at Ferndale, Bruce was an outstanding basketball and baseball player and editor of the school newspaper, “The Eagle”. He attended Miami University (Ohio) and graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in history. After graduation, Bruce pursued a career in sales and ultimately joined the Olga Co. However, his dream was to always own his own business. When the opportunity for Joyce and Bruce arose in 1973 to purchase Bartling’s, a women’s apparel store in downtown Traverse City, that dream was realized, and the Rogers family moved north to begin a new life. As a new business owner, Bruce was actively involved in the Downtown Traverse City Community. He co-founded the Downtown Development Authority in the late 1970’s. He became known as a champion of retail in Michigan and served on the board of the Michigan Retailers Association in Lansing for 20 years. He was president of the MRA board in 1996. Bruce was active in the Traverse City Rotary Club for 48 years and was recently awarded an Honorary Membership. As Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rotary Charities, he was proud to be involved in the purchase of the Park Place Hotel out of bankruptcy in 1990 and share in the joyful Grand Reopening of the Park Place in 1992 and in the hiring of Rob Collier as the first Executive Director of Rotary Charities. Rob always called Bruce, “Coach”. Bruce was also a member of Rotary Camps and Services and served as President of Rotary Center, which operated the hotel for four years in partnership with Northwestern Michigan College. Community involvement was important to Bruce. He was a member of the National Cherry Festival Board of Trustees for many years and served as President from 2004-2006. From 1984-1986 Bruce served as a director of the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce and was honored to receive the Chamber’s Distinguished Service Award in 2009. Bruce was a long serving board member of the Downtown Traverse City Association and received the Lyle DeYoung Award in 1994. He was inducted into the Traverse City Business Hall of Fame in 2018. He became a board member of Old Kent Bank, later Fifth Third, and in 2001 was a founding member of Traverse City State Bank, for which he served as a director for 10 years. After 30 years in business, Joyce and Bruce closed Bartling’s. Retirement was not a word in Bruce’s vocabulary. He subsequently became a founding partner in Schmidt Rogers Management. However, he still had a forever dream – to own property and raise Hereford cattle. That dream became reality in 2014 when he purchased acreage in Williamsburg and named it Trillium Springs Ranch. He was insistent that TSR be referred to as a ranch, not as a farm. Over the following years, many cows and calves roamed the pastures and hills. ACTS and the Methodist Church downtown were often recipients of meat donations. Although much was known about Bruce’s ranch, what only a few knew is that he envisioned himself as a cowboy – horses being his first love. At age l6 he was a ranch hand in Montanna helping to pack riders into the mountains of Glacier National Park to their campsites. He enjoyed riding his own horse, George, for over 20 years. It is not surprising that Bruce was also a great supporter of 4H, inspired by his granddaughters’ involvement as equestrians and in nurturing their own animal entries. He looked forward each year to the NW Michigan Fair and was always there to watch them compete in the equestrian events and show their respective animals. Having the ranch gave Bruce the opportunity to gift calves to young people to raise and show. His joy was helping them achieve their dream by raising an animal and ultimately selling it at auction. An avid hunter, Bruce especially treasured the last many years hunting pheasant in South Dakota with this son, Michael, and grandsons, Bruce and Josh. Whatever the season, Burk’s Hunt Club in Hillman, with dear friends gathered, was always a highlight. Joyce and Bruce have been members of the First Congregational Church for over forty years and have enjoyed membership in the Traverse City Golf and Country Club since June 1973. In the words of family and friends, Bruce will forever be remembered for: his smile, which was “a reflection of his inner self”, his “ kindness with a pure heart”, always being the quintessential gentleman “even in the first grade”, leading an exemplary life of Rotary’s “Service Above Self,” being a mentor to many, being a kind and caring person, his sincerity and strong values, his dedication to Downtown T.C., being a man of vision, his comfort and strength in his faith, “a life well lived with purpose”, and the love of Joyce and their family. Bruce is survived by Joyce, his beloved wife and partner of 53 years; his sister, Cynthia Rogers Zapel; his children: Sarah (Tim) Twinam, Jennifer (Rick) Mau and Michael (Teri) Rogers; his loving grandchildren: Josh (Jessica) Sweeney, Emily (Phil) Jackson, Corinna Marshia, Katie Mau, Bruce (Trista) Mau, Marisa (Joe Gonzalez) Rogers, Mikaela Rogers and 10 great grandchildren; niece, Laura (Lara Greasy) Lovisa; nephew, David (Carrie) Lovisa and their sons; niece; Dawn (Derek) Harman and their sons. Bruce was preceded in death by his parents and nephew, Tony Pisor A celebration of life honoring Bruce will be held at the First Congregational Church on Saturday, August 26 at 11:00 AM with visitation held one hour prior to the service. If you choose to remember Bruce with a memorial please consider: Peace Ranch, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, or the First Congregational Church Music Ministry.

W. Bruce Rogers

July 10, 1941 - June 14, 2023