Bruce Blackburn Love, age 92, a resident of Carol Stream Illinois passed away August 16, 2021, following a SARS COV 2 illness.

Bruce was born in Bloomingdale Michigan, to William and Myrtle Love, April 5 1929. He was one of 13 children and is the last of his siblings to survive this life. Bruce was acquainted with hard work and struggle from a young age. He was raised on a subsistence farm. His father died when he was nine years old. His three older brothers were all away and serving in World War II during this time. From age 9 to 18 he was often the only man in the house. He worked long hours at his studies, excelled in 4 sports and picked up any job he could find on surrounding farms and orchards to help his mother and sisters make ends meet. When he finished high school he was able to attend Moody Bible Institute largely because tuition was free. He studied for the ministry from 1948 to 51 at MBI. During those years he also worked evenings continuing to help his mother and younger sisters back home. After graduating he got a job with Youth for Christ and directed the new program in Warren, Ohio for one year.

He met his future wife Verla Lindstrom in 1952, a nursing student at West Suburban and they were married in 1953. They moved to Gary Indiana where Bruce was the Director of Lake County Youth for Christ from 1953 to 1960. He had a busy ministry in many high schools and began to mentor young men and women, many of whom he led to Christ. A number of those young people went into the ministry at YFC or the church and have remained lifelong faithful friends to Bruce and Verla. In 1961 Bruce became Executive Director of Lifeline youth camps in Indiana. He worked closely with Governor Matt Walsh of Indiana establishing a program for young men under the age of 18 who were in trouble with the law. The program offered another path through mentoring, discipline and the study of Scripture. Lifeline continued for many years after Bruce left in 1965 to serve in the national office of YFC in Wheaton, Illinois. Bruce served for many years as a YFC Director beginning in the national office and eventually becoming Director of YFC / Campus Life Chicago from 1970 to 1985. The program flourished under his leadership and the grace of God.

In 1985 he became Associate Pastor at Wheaton Evangelical Free Church which is now Compass Church. He ministered there until his retirement in 2008 at age 79. Among his contributions at WEFC were visiting, comforting and praying with people at home and in the hospital. He presided over many funeral services over the years. Bruce was a loyal and faithful friend to pastors and staff in the area and throughout the country. Along with Jack Schrader, he was instrumental in the development of the evening hymn sings at WEFC, a blessing to many. The Hymn Sing continues to this day at Compass Church. Bruce was an avid Cub's fan for 92 years. 2016 made it all worth it.

Bruce is survived by his wife of 68 years, Verla Lindstrom Love. His children, Robert Love (Phoebe), Janice Speakman (Art), his grandchildren Andrew Love (Ada), Natalie Love, Nikolas Love, Bradley Speakman, Benjamin Speakman (Hannah), and his great grandson, Everett Robert Love.

A memorial service will be held at Compass Church, 520 Roosevelt Rd. Wheaton, IL 60187, September 18, 2021 at 11:00 AM. For those unable to attend the service in person, a livestream will be available through this link: https://youtu.be/Xx3eR0G2C1g . A reception will follow immediately with refreshments and a time of sharing with the family. Interment will be held privately at Wheaton Cemetery in Wheaton, Illinois.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Moody Bible Institute , 820 N. LaSalle, St. Chicago, IL 60610, or to Samaritan's Purse , P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.

Family and friends are encouraged to sign the guestbook hultgrenfh.com. For more information call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-002.