Bruce Havens, formerly of Wheaton, Downers Grove and Naperville, died March 31, 2010 in Eureka Springs, AR. Bruce was born on a farm at Woodbine, IL and also lived at Stockton, IL. He moved to a farm at the north end of Wheaton in 1932. Later he moved to a farm in southern Wheaton, then far north Wheaton to another farm. He graduated from Wheaton Community High School in 1939. He was a member of Gary Methodist Church, then Downers Grove Methodist Church.
Bruce enlisted in the Marines in March of 1944, serving in the 2nd Division, 342nd Battalion as a mortar crewman. In the Pacific theatre he was engaged in battles on Tarawa, Enewetak, Saipan and Okinawa. His battalion was waiting offshore to invade Japan when the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. His group went into Japan immediately to destroy all ammo, weapons, bombs and airplanes held by Japanese. They drove their jeeps completely around the site of the bomb drop. He was in Japan for one year and thirty three days, and was discharged in the summer of 1946.
He married Florence Venard of Downers Grove and lived there for over 30 years.
He worked for John Deere, repairing farm machinery, later opening his own shop where Fox Valley Mall now stands, then another business near 95th and Rt. 59, still repairing farm machinery in the Naperville area. After his wife's death, he married Ruth Collins of Downers Grove, later retiring to Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Hazel and Leonard Havens, and five sisters, Lois Pottenger, Betty Smith, Marjorie Smith, Barbara Smith and Twylah Shaner. He is survived by one sister, Fairie Vanne of Wheaton and many nieces, nephews and step-children and step-grandchildren.
Interment was in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Guest book at hultgrenfh.com or call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.