Bruce Williams

Bruce W. Williams, age 68 of Freeport, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, February 14, 2018 at the Grand Itasca Hospital in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 21 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Daniel Walz officiating. A private interment will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 9:30 to 10:30 Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be held at 5 p.m. followed by the Freeport Fire Department Rosary at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Bruce Walter Williams was born September 7, 1949 in Melrose, Minnesota to Godfrey and Charlotte (Hockert) Williams. He served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1970. Bruce had three children from a previous marriage. He was united in marriage to Laurel Jedlicki on December 14, 2002 in St. Cloud. Bruce owned and operated Freeport Motor Company and Williams Bus Service. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport and the Big Birch Lake Gun Club. Bruce enjoyed hunting, fishing, four-wheeling, woodworking, and loved spending time with his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Loree Williams of Freeport; children, Tammy (Bryan) Yarke of Greenwald, Chris (Sara) Williams of Freeport, Greg (Donna) Williams of Eagan, Adam (Cheryl) Hellickson of Royalton, Becky (Tony) Waytashek of St. Cloud, Jodi (John) Brown of Hillman, Anita Hellickson of California, and Shanda (Kyle) Walter of Rice; 18 grandchildren; step-mother, Clara Williams of Freeport; brothers and sisters, Jeff (Judy) Williams of White Bear Lake, Alan (Mary) Williams of Freeport, Mark (Terry) Williams of Denver, Colorado, Linda (Joe) Spadafore of Melrose, Eva Asplin of Lake Park, and Roger Williams of Minneapolis.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Dale; and infant brothers, Joseph and Keith.

Serving as casket bearers will be Brandon Gerads, Keagan Williams, Zach Waytashek, Ben Waytashek, Tyler Hellickson, Jordan Hellickson, Logan Hellickson, and Steven Benner. Cross bearer will be Kendyl Brown and scripture bearer will be Ava Williams. Readers will be Brianna Gerads and Deserae Hellickson and petitions will be by Zoey Eastman. Gift bearers will be Miranda Hellickson and Jemma Brown.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.