Obituary of Bruce Allan Kellman

Bruce Allan Kellman was born in Sycamore, IL to Robert A. Kellman and Violet H. Kellman. When he was a boy the family owned and operated a clothing store in Hampshire, IL. He was a budding entrepreneur. At the age of 9 his father co-signed a bank loan so he could purchase a lawn mower to go into business for himself. A love of photography began when he chose to purchase a camera with the proceeds. His freshman year of high school the family, including sisters Judy and Carla, moved west to Washington, where he joined the swim team, starred in theater productions, and took photos for the Selah High School yearbook. His passion for photography blossomed and he landed a job at Kennel-Ellis Studio developing film and shooting weddings. He was only 15 years old, so the studio owner had to drive him to his first few assignments. It wasn’t long before he earned enough money to purchase his first car and coax his older sister into driving him around in exchange for borrowing privileges. A cute girl from Sunday school caught his eye and a life-long love affair began with his high school sweetheart Joyce. He would follow her to the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA after completing his first 2 years at Yakima Valley Community College, working as their yearbook editor. Impressing the admissions counselor, he landed the same job at UPS and subsequently a part-time job at the News Tribune. Upon graduation he was offered a full-time job with the paper. Having no other prospects, he took the job and it was the only one he ever had. Bruce and Joyce married after graduation in the summer of 1967 and he enlisted with the Army National Guard, serving for the next 6 years. He had been a Boy Scout and was notoriously prepared. Freelancing in the wedding business, he always carried a complete set of equipment in the trunk of his car in case of a rare malfunction. He had an eye for detail and saw the world through lighting opportunities. He was an observer and patiently waited to capture the stories as they happened. Photojournalism suited his style with sporting events in particular. Some perks of the job included meeting scores of famous people and attending sought after events, such as the Rose Bowl and Super Bowl. The thrill of freezing the decisive moments spurred him on for 42 years in the business. Documenting the history of his community was a privilege and he carried out his job with passion, integrity, and dependability. As a trusted friend and respected professional, Bruce was sought out for his insightful advice and honest answers. He was morally sound and fought for high standards. Raising his children Elizabeth, Emily, and David brought deep joy to his life. He instilled a strong work ethic and sense of pride in their endeavors. He inspired them to act passionately on their ideas and had a unique perspective to offer. He was proud of their accomplishments and inspired their successes. His grandchildren provided a new audience for his wealth of information and fascinating stories. Lauren, Kai, Marina, Brandon, Breanna, and Dylan were lucky to have had the opportunity to receive his guidance. Like the artistic black and white photos he skillfully exposed, he thought of life in terms of its shades of gray. He contemplated all sides of an issue and would passionately defend those people and points of view he held close. He enjoyed politics, history, and technology. An early user of Apple computers, he enthusiastically embraced how the digital world changed his life both personally and professionally. A lifelong Methodist, he thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship he found with members of Fircrest United Methodist Church. He joined this congregation in 1968 and was involved with every aspect of the church from youth leadership to lay leadership, from board positions to publicity. Years of service to the various ministries left an indelible mark on the people and programs of the church. When conflicts arose he worked toward solutions and out of small groups grew friendships. Annual retreats and potlucks deepened connections and continued through the decades. His sense of humor and intelligent wit carried him through even the most difficult challenges. Bruce retired from the News Tribune in 2007 to pursue his passion for garden railway and travel more with his family. He lived with no regrets. Unfortunately, his time was cut short when lung disease took hold. He wouldn’t accept an easy defeat and underwent a bilateral lung transplant on August 8, 2010. Healing was difficult, but he was a fighter. He fought long and hard, but in the end his body could not fully recover. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family.