Bruce Winn Pollock, 64, of Gleason, passed away April 20, 2010 at his home. He fought Cancer with grace and dignity, never losing his sense of humor.

He is survived by his devoted wife and best friend, Elaine; his sons, Andrew, Aaron and Joe and wife Rosita; and his precious granddaughter, Michelle. He was extremely proud of all the boys' accomplishments and took so much pleasure in playing with Michelle.

Bruce was born January 19, 1946 in Madison, the son of Reverend Joseph D. and Margaret Winn Pollock, both deceased. His sister, Lynn (Ed) Heiman reside in Madison.

He attended Stout State University majoring in Psychology and the University of Wisconsin-Stout receiving a Master's degree in Counseling. After college he worked in Prairie du Chien as a social worker and juvenile probation officer. He was also employed at Colorado Mountain College in Glenwood Springs, CO, Nebraska Western College in Scottsbluff, NE, Lamer Community College in Lamar CO, University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND and Urbana University in Urbana OH, in various positions of teaching, counseling and administration. For the past 18 years he worked for the State of Wisconsin at Lincoln Hills School as a youth counselor. Bruce was almost always involved with young people and enjoyed talking with them, joking with them and listening to their problems.

He went to a church camp in Colorado during high school and fell in love with the West. He loved the mountains, wide open spaces and the friendliness of the people driving past and waving. He enjoyed his cowboy boots, hats and collected western artifacts to decorate his home. He and his wife planned to return to the Southwest after retirement. He loved Scottish and Irish music, folk songs, cowboy music and art-especially his mother-in-law's western paintings, traveling with his wife, carpentry and lathe turning, skiing, canoeing, snowshoeing and homemade cookies. Bruce had a special knack his whole life for practical jokes, many of which the students at Lincoln Hills School would request be repeated. These always had a moral and he hoped to inspire thoughtfulness on some of life's lessons. He had a special place in his heart for his pets, past and present, his Packers and especially for little children.

The family will honor Bruce's wishes to be cremated and have no service. A private celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to Dr. Kansari, Dr Dyreby, Dr. Kotila, Dr. Ege, Tammery Perry, Jon Williams and the staff of the James Beck Cancer Center in Rhinelander for the loving care given to Bruce. They also thank Dr. Banas, Dr. Labib and Ministry Home Care Hospice from Rheinlander, along with, Chris, Angie, Susie, Connie, Melissa, John Pope, Sandy and Jean.

They would also like to thank all you who called, sent cards and stopped by to visit during his illness, our neighbors, all at Caylor's Corners, Jim and Don Maas, and co-workers at Lincoln Hills School and Afsme Union. Be assured it meant a great deal to him.

The Cowboys' Prayer

O Lord, I've never lived where churches grew,
I've loved creation better as it stood
That day you finished it, so long ago,
And looked upon your work and called it good.

Just let me live my life as I've begun!
And give me word that's open to the sky,
Make me a partner of the wind and sun,
And I won't ask a life that's soft and high.

Make me as big and open as the plains;
As honest as the horse between my knees;
Clean as the wind that blows behind the rains;
Free as the hawk that circles down the breeze.

Just keep an eye on all that's done and said;
Just right me sometimes when I turn aside;
And guide me on the long, dim trail ahead_
That stretches upward towards the Great Divide.
Badger Clark

May the trail rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face, the snow fall soft on the hills around you and until we meet again. . . May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (donors@stjude.org)1-800-805-5856 or Ministry Home Care Hospice, PO Box 716, Rhinelander, WI 54501 (ministryhomecare.org) 1-715-361-2230.

Happy trails to you.

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