Obituary of Bruce Edward Varner

Bruce Edward Varner, of Greenfield, Minnesota, went to his heavenly home on February 9, 2022, at the age of 66. He survived for three years with brain cancer (glioblastoma), and his faith in God gave him the strength to endure a difficult journey with cancer.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Shirley Varner, and his soul mate and wife of 43 years, Nancy Varner. He will be deeply missed by loving daughters Anna (Tom) Vogel and Sarah (Derek) Barto; beloved grandchildren, Kayla Vogel and Miles and Henry Barto; sister Sandy (Jay) Krueger; step grandmother Esther “Betty” Hansen; along with many relatives and good friends.

Bruce was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on December 20, 1955. He attended primary school for a few years in Orono before his family moved to St. Louis Park. He and Nancy were high school sweethearts who graduated from St. Louis Park High School in 1974 and married in 1976. Bruce worked for his dad as a teenager and took over the family business, Master Heating & Cooling, in 1975. Bruce and Nancy built their home in Greenfield in 1984 and enjoyed working as a team and tackling many projects at home and the lake cabin.

Bruce had a love of motorcycles that he shared with family and friends. He started riding motorcycles at age 13 and later competed in dirt bike and enduro races. He also participated in ski jumping in high school and enjoyed the thrill of snowmobile racing and downhill skiing. Through his adventures in motorcycling with “Club Mud” and the “Buzz Run,” he built enduring and lifelong friendships. He also loved carving his own off-road dirt bike trails through the woods for his family to enjoy.

Bruce was dedicated to building and renovating the family lake cabin in Fifty Lakes, Minnesota. He spent countless weekends up north enjoying hunting, waterskiing, dirt bike riding, sunsets by the lake, campfires and s’mores. Bruce had a big heart for his three grandchildren and took great pride in watching them learn to ski and pursue their interests in school.

Bruce will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts. Visitation at 12:30pm; Celebration of Life at 2pm on Saturday, February 26, at Ascension Lutheran Church, 15870 46th Ave. N., Plymouth (763-559-0579). The service will be live streamed at the following link: www.youtube.com/user/AscensionPlymouth. Private interment at Lewis Cemetery, Maple Plain. Memorials preferred to Ascension Lutheran Church in Plymouth.