Bruce McGrew

Bruce McGrew, 68 of Lakeland, Florida, husband of Joni Batie-McGrew, died on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at Lakeland Regional Hospital. Graveside services will be at 1:30 P.M. on Friday, July 28, 2017 at Prairie Mound Cemetery near Butler. Rev. Ken Ballard will officiate. Bruce Fredrick McGrew was born on December 8, 1948 to Rev. Alfred and Mona McGrew at Seaside, Oregon. As his parents were missionaries, he lived in Bandung, Indonesia for most of his youth. His family returned to the United States when he was a teenager. He graduated in 1967 from Shadle Park High School in Spokane, Washington. Following graduation, he joined the US Marine Corps. He served in the Marine Corps for nine years including two tours in Vietnam. Upon his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, he worked briefly on a dairy farm before re-entering military service in the United States Army. He was stationed at many places throughout his military career including Washington D.C., Hawaii, Texas, Ohio, Korea, Germany, the Sinai, and Ft. Bragg, NC. Following retirement from the Army at Ft. Bragg, he held various positions including corrections officer in North Carolina, Working for the Veterans Administration in South Dakota, and construction in Florida. Bruce graduated from Central Texas University and attended the University of South Dakota. He was united in marriage to Joni Batie in 1988. Bruce and his family moved to Pensacola, Florida in 1994 and in 2005 to Lakeland, Florida. He was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, John Darling Masonic Lodge #154, and was a lifetime member of Disabled American Veterans. . Bruce enjoyed scuba diving, attending rodeos, traveling, gardening, and all things related to history. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Joni Batie-McGrew of Lakeland, FL, daughters, Caitlin McGrew of Brookings, SD, Brenna McGrew of Lakeland, FL, one sister Marilyn (George) Kahuna of Hawaii, two brothers, Brian (Krishta) McGrew of Oregon, and Robert McGrew of Virginia. He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Adam, one sister Sharon Devereaux, and his in-laws, LaVern “Baldy” and Diane Batie.