1944
Bruce
2015
Bruce Lynn Gresly
November 26, 1944 — June 28, 2015
Bruce Lynn Gresly, passed away on June 28, 2015. Funeral Services for will take place Monday, July 6, 2015 at the Lander Valley High School Field House in Lander, Wyoming. Funeral services are under the direction of Hudson's Funeral Home in Lander, Wyoming.
Bruce Lynn Gresly (November 26, 1944- June 28, 2015) was born in Battle Creek, Michigan the baby of 5 kids.Bruce was raised in a family of swimmers and divers and was an All-American diver in high school.He continued his diving career at the University of Wyoming where he was a WAC champion diver (1965-1968), and graduated with a BS in 1968 and a MS in Health and Physical Education in 1969.He began coaching in 1969 in Rockford, IL, then moved to Wyoming in 1972 with his wife, Jerre, to coach and teach at Lander Valley High School, which he did until the day he died.He was inducted to the Wyoming Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1996, named National Federation of High School National Coach of the Year in 2000, National High School Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2001, elected to the Hall of Fame of Battle Creek Central High School in 2005, and was named a Wyoming Coaches Association Coach of the Year for either girls, boys or both, every year from 1992 to 2015.At Lander Valley High School, his teams have won a total of 29 state championships, 7 for girls, 22 for boys.The boys will continue on their run of 19 consecutive state titles this winter.
"The Bruce"
The man who...
Would throw his head back, eyes closed and laugh with delight at the simplest thing.
Always felt like it was going to come down to the very last relay.
He soared toward the roof and got perfect 10s in his diving career.
A man who...
Held space for people and their not-yet-found achievements.
Looked surprised every time you came into his office, like he had been missing you the whole time you were apart.
Gave people a safe haven when the world around them counted them out and had left them behind.
Listened to your excuses but believed in you regardless.
Built a bed in a yellow bus, sat in a kelly green chair and shook his finger at disappointing behavior.
He had the best sense of humor.
A man who...
Never shamed you for swimming badly.
Was never threatened by new ideas.
Was constantly encouraging.
Stood at the very edge of the pool to see the race and so his sometimes-cryptic arm gestures would be seen clearly.
When given the chance to criticize a person, he consistently picked a kind word and believed in the chance of personal astonishment.
Believed the key element of a good coach wasn't about knowing skills, it was about knowing about life, believing in kids, and helping people figure out who they were.
Understood that hard work was worth it.
A man who...
Always thought the water was warm and the bottom line was to be prepared.
Stood up for what was right and would hold his ground for the things he believed in.
Never shrunk back in the face of fear, crisis, confrontation or an angry parent.
Who always made sure people were fed.
Who only wore shorts, ever.
Who always ordered the blooming onion and let all the boys swimmers order appetizers and dessert at Outback Steakhouse.
Who saved people from themselves.
Who had a healthy intake of carbohydrates.
Who snowboarded until his knees told him to go home.
Who made trips to Vegas for the pizza not the attractions.
Who shook hands at the podium, no matter what.
Who owned a truck, a pizza place and a fast yellow car.
Who always knew the weather on Teton Pass.
Who turned his swivel chair to look you in the face as you asked him questions.
Who was always patient and would wait until you took the time to believe in yourself.
Who knew his praise was gold and would use it carefully.
Bruce, the man who had a knack for empowering the underdog and understanding the overachiever.
Bruce will be missed by his big sister and brother, Lila and Vaughn, his son Glen, 9 loving nieces and 2 wonderful nephews, his former wife Jerre, every athlete who has ever swam or dove for him, every team that ever swam against him because they knew they were going against one of the greats, all the bros in the fresh powder that will miss his sharp turns, by the community that benefited from having a steady coach for 46 years, by the group of coaches that stood by his side on countless pool decks
Bruce is now reuniting with his son Ed, his parents LaVern and Marion, his brothers LaVern Jr, and Garrett, his nephew David, and his mentor, Coach Leroy Sparks.
Maybe we should have said it more often, maybe we should have hugged tighter when we got the chance, maybe we should have stopped by the office more often, but today we say; Bruce, you were right, it has come down to the last relay and we couldn't be happier to be your team.
In lieu of flowers, thank you for sending your generous gifts to the scholarship funds at gofundme (http://www.gofundme.com/yaswh4) or at Central Bank and Trust, Lander, WY.
Please sign online guestbook www.HudsonsFuneralhome.com
Funeral Home:
Hudson's Funeral Home
680 Mount Hope Drive
Lander, WY
US 82520
Bruce Lynn Gresly (November 26, 1944- June 28, 2015) was born in Battle Creek, Michigan the baby of 5 kids.Bruce was raised in a family of swimmers and divers and was an All-American diver in high school.He continued his diving career at the University of Wyoming where he was a WAC champion diver (1965-1968), and graduated with a BS in 1968 and a MS in Health and Physical Education in 1969.He began coaching in 1969 in Rockford, IL, then moved to Wyoming in 1972 with his wife, Jerre, to coach and teach at Lander Valley High School, which he did until the day he died.He was inducted to the Wyoming Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1996, named National Federation of High School National Coach of the Year in 2000, National High School Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2001, elected to the Hall of Fame of Battle Creek Central High School in 2005, and was named a Wyoming Coaches Association Coach of the Year for either girls, boys or both, every year from 1992 to 2015.At Lander Valley High School, his teams have won a total of 29 state championships, 7 for girls, 22 for boys.The boys will continue on their run of 19 consecutive state titles this winter.
"The Bruce"
The man who...
Would throw his head back, eyes closed and laugh with delight at the simplest thing.
Always felt like it was going to come down to the very last relay.
He soared toward the roof and got perfect 10s in his diving career.
A man who...
Held space for people and their not-yet-found achievements.
Looked surprised every time you came into his office, like he had been missing you the whole time you were apart.
Gave people a safe haven when the world around them counted them out and had left them behind.
Listened to your excuses but believed in you regardless.
Built a bed in a yellow bus, sat in a kelly green chair and shook his finger at disappointing behavior.
He had the best sense of humor.
A man who...
Never shamed you for swimming badly.
Was never threatened by new ideas.
Was constantly encouraging.
Stood at the very edge of the pool to see the race and so his sometimes-cryptic arm gestures would be seen clearly.
When given the chance to criticize a person, he consistently picked a kind word and believed in the chance of personal astonishment.
Believed the key element of a good coach wasn't about knowing skills, it was about knowing about life, believing in kids, and helping people figure out who they were.
Understood that hard work was worth it.
A man who...
Always thought the water was warm and the bottom line was to be prepared.
Stood up for what was right and would hold his ground for the things he believed in.
Never shrunk back in the face of fear, crisis, confrontation or an angry parent.
Who always made sure people were fed.
Who only wore shorts, ever.
Who always ordered the blooming onion and let all the boys swimmers order appetizers and dessert at Outback Steakhouse.
Who saved people from themselves.
Who had a healthy intake of carbohydrates.
Who snowboarded until his knees told him to go home.
Who made trips to Vegas for the pizza not the attractions.
Who shook hands at the podium, no matter what.
Who owned a truck, a pizza place and a fast yellow car.
Who always knew the weather on Teton Pass.
Who turned his swivel chair to look you in the face as you asked him questions.
Who was always patient and would wait until you took the time to believe in yourself.
Who knew his praise was gold and would use it carefully.
Bruce, the man who had a knack for empowering the underdog and understanding the overachiever.
Bruce will be missed by his big sister and brother, Lila and Vaughn, his son Glen, 9 loving nieces and 2 wonderful nephews, his former wife Jerre, every athlete who has ever swam or dove for him, every team that ever swam against him because they knew they were going against one of the greats, all the bros in the fresh powder that will miss his sharp turns, by the community that benefited from having a steady coach for 46 years, by the group of coaches that stood by his side on countless pool decks
Bruce is now reuniting with his son Ed, his parents LaVern and Marion, his brothers LaVern Jr, and Garrett, his nephew David, and his mentor, Coach Leroy Sparks.
Maybe we should have said it more often, maybe we should have hugged tighter when we got the chance, maybe we should have stopped by the office more often, but today we say; Bruce, you were right, it has come down to the last relay and we couldn't be happier to be your team.
In lieu of flowers, thank you for sending your generous gifts to the scholarship funds at gofundme (http://www.gofundme.com/yaswh4) or at Central Bank and Trust, Lander, WY.
Please sign online guestbook www.HudsonsFuneralhome.com
Funeral Home:
Hudson's Funeral Home
680 Mount Hope Drive
Lander, WY
US 82520
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bruce Lynn Gresly, please visit our flower store.
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