His parents, Fred J. and Thelma (Strange) Mispel welcomed their son into the world on October 16, 1937, in Pittsfield, MA. He grew up in Hinsdale, MA, and was a graduate of Pittsfield High School.
Bruce served his country in the US Army from January 3, 1956 until December 15, 1958.
Following his military service Bruce attended Keene State College where he received a Bachelor Degree in Industrial Arts. While in college, Bruce worked as a machinist with the former American Optical Company in Keene.
Bruce devoted 25 years in teaching machining and hands-on skills to high school students as an industrial arts teacher at Lee (MA) High School and later at Keene High School. This career brought him great joy in sharing his love for working with his hands and extending this skill to the many students that came through his classroom doors.
He had a true love of nature, taking in everything that the great out-of-doors afforded to him. He loved all wildlife, especially birds. It is said, "He could walk through a field of clover and come up with a handful of 4-leaf clovers every time".
Bruce was a skilled craftsman and inventor. These talents lent themselves to his success as an artist and designer. He was a homebuilder and finished carpenter as well. Bruce was always a great resource for things needed as he always had "two of everything". If you needed something fixed, you could always rely on Bruce to make it happen.
He will be greatly missed by many, especially his wife of 62 years, Sandra A. "Sandy" (Stillings) Mispel of Swanzey; his children, Wendy John, of Swanzey, Douglas Mispel of Keene; his grandchildren, Christopher John, Genifer John, Emmalie John, Zackarie John; his great-grandchildren, Robert "Bobby" John and Simon John; two brothers, Fred Mispel and his wife, Barbara, of FL, David Mispel of VT; a sister, Antoinette "Toni" Cunningham and her husband, Brian, of ME; a son-in-law, Bob John of Munsonville, NH; and several nieces, nephews and extended family members.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 14, 2022 at 10:00am in St. Bernard Church 185 Main Street, Keene. Burial with committal prayers and military honors will follow in the Monadnock View Cemetery, Park Avenue, Keene. Family and friends are invited to call on Sunday afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00pm at the Foley Funeral Home 49 Court Street, Keene. All those in attendance at the visitation are required to wear facemasks.
In lieu of flowers for those who wish, donations may be made in Bruce’s memory to the Monadnock Humane Society, 101 West Swanzey Road, West Swanzey, NH 03446; or to the Tribute Program St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org/donatetoday), 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
