Rochelle "Spunkie" Bruce

Rochelle “Spunkie” Bruce, age 72, passed peacefully surrounded by family on September 11, 2025 at the Deaconess Illinois Medical Center in Marion, Illinois.

Spunkie was born at home in Minerva, Ohio to the late Clifford and Audrey Crawford on November 1, 1947. This is the day that Cliff announced “my Spunkie” and the nickname stuck. She attended Minerva High School with the class of 1966.

Spunkie is survived by her husband, Eddie Bruce; her daughters, Peggy (David) Savage of Lancaster, Ohio, Tara Bruce of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, and Erin Bruce of Fairfield, Illinois; her sister, Shirla Waller of Minerva, Ohio; and her brother, Bill Crawford of Beloit, Ohio; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son, Jimmy Sanor, and sister, Elizabeth (Peg) Haig.

The family will honor Spunkies’ wishes for no formal memorial. She selflessly made the decision to donate her body to the Washington University in St. Louis where she received treatment for her brain tumor. The family will have a remembrance of life at a later date.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff at Deaconess Illinois Medical Center for their exceptional care and kindness.