Bruce L. Ketterhagen, 86, was called home to the Lord on Sept. 12, 2025, surrounded by family at Oak Park Place in Burlington.
Bruce was born on March 10, 1939, in Burlington to Leroy and Edith (nee Johnson) Ketterhagen. He graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic High School in 1957. He actively served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960 and was honorably discharged. On Sept. 15, 1962, Bruce married his long-time sweetheart, Ruth Kerkman at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in New Munster. Following their marriage Bruce and Ruth started their family and built their house on family property in the Town of Burlington, near Brown’s Lake, where Ruth continues to live.
After his Army service Bruce was employed in various local jobs before eventually working for Racine County Highway Department when he retired in 1999. He was a lifetime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and took his faith seriously believing with all his heart in the redemptive grace of Jesus Christ. Bruce coached Little League baseball during his son’s playing time during the late 1970’s.
Bruce enjoyed the outdoors fishing and hunting, and spending time playing cards with family and friends at the family cabin on Lake West Bay in northern Wisconsin. At home he took particular care with his home landscaping and gardens.
Bruce is survived by his wife, Ruth; children Kris (Brian) Wettlaufer of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, Kim (Dave) Mielke of North Ft. Meyers, Florida and Joe (Dawn) Ketterhagen of Fairchild; grandchildren Jake (Samantha) Lininger, Sam Mielke and Max Mielke. He is further survived by his siblings, Fred Ketterhagen, Barb (Glen) Huelscamp, Pat (Kim) Ketterhagen, Tim Ketterhagen, Jackie (Bill) Ligare and Jenny Ketterhagen. He was preceded in death by parents Leroy and Edith, and siblings Sandy Martin and Mike Ketterhagen.
A visitation for Bruce will be on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025 at Schuette-Daniels Funeral Home, from 10 a.m. until Noon. Mass will take place at 1 p.m. at St. Charles Borromeo, 440 Kendall St., Burlington. Interment will follow in Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to The Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
The family sincerely thanks the kind and caring staff at Oak Park Place and St. Croix Hospice, especially Hospice Nurse Jen for taking such loving care of Bruce.
Services have been entrusted to Daniels Family Funeral Homes & Crematory. Well-wishers may visit www.danielsfamilyfuneral.com.
