Bruce Wenner

Bruce Richard Wenner passed away on October 27th , 2022 at the age of 84.  He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Francie, his three children, Kathleen, Brian and Thomas, six grandchildren Anna, Nathan, Daniel, Joshua, Marie and Gaelys, and by his brother, The Reverend Fred Wenner of Frederick, MD and sister Louise McKinney of Cleveland, OH.

Bruce was born in Lancaster, PA on April 25th, 1938 to the Reverend Jerome Arthur Wenner and Mary Pauline Wenner (nee Albertson).  Bruce graduated from the College of Wooster in Wooster, OH, spent a year in Germany on a Fulbright Scholarship and received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Duke University in Durham, NC.

Bruce was a passionate civil rights activist. He was a Freedom Rider, a participant in the March on Washington and, while at Duke in the early 60’s, helped organize rallies, marches and sit-ins.  He was jailed on numerous occasions and even shot at during this time.

He was Professor of Mathematics at the University of Vermont, where he met Francie.  He would play folk songs on the guitar at get-togethers and she would sing. They made beautiful music together and were married in Burlington, VT in 1965.  In 1968, he joined the Math Department at the University of Missouri Kansas City, where he rose to the rank of Full Professor and later was Chairman of the department.  He played a major leadership role at UMKC, being elected repeatedly as Chairman of the College of Arts and Science and later, President of the campus-wide Faculty Senate.

Bruce loved history and read avidly on historical subjects.  He particularly liked to read about this country’s military conflicts and had encyclopedic knowledge in this area.  You couldn’t stump him!  He was particularly interested in and knowledgeable about the Civil War.  Once, touring the battlefield at Antietam, he politely corrected the guide on a few minor points…

He also loved the ocean, and winter vacations in Siesta Key, FL were an annual highlight of his year.  His friends all gave him the business when he returned from these trips sporting a deep tan in mid-winter. With Francie, Bruce traveled in the U.S. and internationally; the couple enjoyed trips to England, Ireland and New Zealand (among others) and cruised the Mediterranean from Barcelona to Istanbul.

Bruce loved music and, growing up, played the violin and later the timpani in his college orchestra.  While at Wooster, he participated in a fraternity sing performing, for the first time, in barbershop harmony.  He instantly fell in love with this style of music. He joined the Burlington, VT barbershop chapter of S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A and, upon moving to Kansas City, the Heart of America chapter where he was a member for 54 years.  He was baritone section leader, chapter President and served on the Music Committee for many years.  He arranged music for the chapter and for his and other quartets and was a society music judge.  He sang baritone in a number of quartets over the years - the last being Tonehenge, a comedy quartet, where he sang with three old friends.

A memorial service will be held on December 9th at 11:00 AM at Kansas City United Church of Christ, 205 W. 65th St., Kansas City Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to: Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care, 12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145.

The family requests that more able-bodied attendees not park right next to the church.  There isn't a parking lot connected to the church grounds, but there is one to the east of the church at 65th and Brookside.  Please allow space on the streets next the church to allow easy access for those who require it.  Thank you.