Bruce I. Lamport

On Saturday, October 31, 2020, Bruce I. Lamport, loving husband and father of four, passed away peacefully at the age of 94.  Bruce was born on February 5, 1926 in Sioux City, Iowa to Irl Ross Lamport and Agnes Sharp Lamport.  In 1944 he graduated from Sioux City’s East High School.  After an honorable discharge from the Navy, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in Accounting and Psychology from Morningside College in Sioux City.

     Bruce was preceded in death by both his father, Irl, and mother, Agnes, as well as by their first child, Irwin Robert, who passed away shortly after birth.  Bruce is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Lorraine; brother, Pastor Gene Lamport (Nancy); daughter, Lynda Lamport (Louis Wright); daughter, Nancy Sieh (Jim); son, William Bruce Lamport (Rochelle); daughter, Kay Lamport; 8 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

     Before and during college, Bruce spent time as a meat cutter.  After graduating, this experience led him to a burgeoning sales career with Armour & Co., where he sold meat products for almost a decade.  From there, Bruce moved from selling meat to serving it as he became a restaurant worker, and later, the general manager and part-owner of Stub’s Ranch Kitchen in Spencer, Iowa.  For 38 years he served the people of Spencer and northwest Iowa in this role.  As a man of principle and tireless perfectionist, Bruce worked to ensure everyone had the best experience possible when eating at Stub’s.  He loved people and had a gift for making others feel wanted and important.  He supported The Sunshine Center by always hiring their residents to work at Stub’s.  In addition, Bruce served his community in various capacities over the years.  He was a charter member of the Spencer Ambassadors, part of the Spencer Chamber of Commerce Fair Booster Committee and a member of the Clay County Fair Board for 30 years.  He also sat on the board for Farmer’s Trust and Savings Bank, was a part of the Clay County Veteran’s Affairs Commission, received Jaycees Boss of the Year award in 1983, and served on the Spencer Historic Preservation Commission.  Bruce had a passion for teaching others and working with youth.  He was an Iowa Hunter Safety Instructor for almost 20 years and took time to give back as leader with the Boy Scouts of America for over a decade.

     An avid outdoorsman with over 50 years of hunting under his boots, Bruce spent much of his free time chasing waterfowl, turkey and deer.  If he could describe his ideal day, it would consist of black coffee and cookies for breakfast; long underwear, a hunting jacket, waders and hand warmers (just so we didn’t have to hear him complain); and a 12 gauge in his lap, sitting in the duck blind watching the sunrise with his best friends, Dick and Vern, his son, Bill, oldest grandson, Chad, along with all of his other grandchildren by his side.

     Bruce will be remembered for his various quips and quotes.  He was a man of many words, often telling stories with such intricate detail that you felt you were with him in the exact time and place he was articulating.  Bruce loved woodworking and had a passion for black and white photography.   In retirement, he built his own dark room and won contests with his nature landscape photos.

     He lived his life with purpose, always leading by example and selflessly giving of himself and his time.  He loved his family and took pride in his many grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He will be fondly remembered by all who knew him and would ask you not to mourn his passing but to honor his life by sharing memories and laughter.

     In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to:

Clay County Ducks Unlimited

603 East 17th Street

Spencer, IA 51301

Or

Clay County Conservation Board

420 10^th Ave. S.E.

Spencer, IA 51301

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