Bruce Westphal, 98, of Greenfield

Funeral Services: Will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle with burial in the Fontanelle Cemetery. Full military graveside services will be conducted by the Fontanelle American Legion Carlson Post No. 247. A luncheon will be held at the church following the burial. The Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Friday, March 28, 2025, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Memorials: To the Emmanuel Lutheran Church.

Bruce Allen Westphal was born November 15, 1926, on a farm in Adair County to Lucy (Speed) Westphal and Ralph H. Westphal. He was baptized April 8th, 1928, at the United Methodist Church. He attended Country School at Summerset #7 and then went to Fontanelle High School graduating in May of 1945. He was not able to attend the graduation because he had enlisted in the Army Air Corps, entering the service on April 1, 1945. When WWII ended in Nov 1945, he had the choice of continuing to serve by going to Japan - or to go home. He chose to go home because of Zola. He was honorably discharged November 24th, 1945. He attended Iowa State University for 2 years while Zola attended Simpson College. They decided to marry October 12, 1947. To this union were born 3 girls, Nancy Jane Laird, Sherol Ann Brown & Celia Lynn Westphal.

After they were married, they worked at the Toggery owned by Zola’s parents. Eventually, the farmer in Bruce decided he needed to be farming, which he continued into his early 90’s. He farmed both south & north of Fontanelle before buying his dad’s farm south of Greenfield in 1976. He lived there until shortly before his death. Farming was his love while being active in the community and at church. He was the Superintendent of Sunday School as well as being on the Church Council for many years. He initiated funds to replace the original organ at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. He loved going to local HS basketball games, eventually becoming known as the ‘guy with the purple wig’. In his spare time, he loved to hunt & fish, which took him on yearly trips to Canada, even flying his buddies in his small plane several years. He & Zola took multiple trips with their neighbors & friends Don & Helen Baudler. Family vacations were yearly trips to Minnesota so the dads could fish, the kids could swim & the moms got to cook & watch the kids. As the hunting & fishing trips slowed down, Bruce took up golf, playing every day the weather would allow, even playing last November, 4 months prior to his passing.

Bruce was preceded in death by his wife Zola, parents Ralph & Lucy Westphal, Sisters Esther (Calvin) Hazen, Estelle (Kenneth) Blazek & Carol (Charles) Nielsen.

Survivors include daughters Nancy (Jack) Laird, Sherol Brown and Celia Westphal, Grandsons Brian Brown, John (Erin) Laird, Alex Barber, David (Kelly) Laird and 3 great grandchildren, Hannah Bradley, Gavin Barber & Grace Barber.