Bruce William Benedix

Bruce William Benedix, 70, died on December 28, 2020, in Visalia, California, of the COVID-19 virus. Bruce was born on September 20, 1950, in Escalon, California, to Max and Olga Benedix. He was baptized in St. John Lutheran Church, Valley Home, California, and worshiped and received Holy Communion regularly with his family and the congregation. He attended elementary school in Ripon and Stockton, California. In spite of his limitations and poor eyesight, he excelled in swimming, motorizing a pedal pushing Jeep, and later a gas-powered children's race car, adapted by his father, and ride a bicycle all around the farm. Bruce liked going to the family cabin in the Dardanelles, in the Sierras, where he swam in the Stanislaus River with his siblings and cousins, went on hikes with the family, and enjoyed visiting with his Norwegian Grandpa Bjorge at his cabin. In his childhood, he began collecting tiny cars and trucks from Hot Wheels, Matchbox, and Tonka. His favorites were pick-up trucks and muscle cars. He continued this hobby throughout his life, adding a collection of Auto magazines as he got older. In 1977, Bruce moved to Good Shepherd Lutheran Home of the West, Terra Bella, California and later, to Visalia, where he lived at the Sandoval Homes until his death. He attended the ABLE learning center, where he worked and learned new skills for the home and garden. There he also learned how to use his walking cane to help him walk more safely because he was now legally blind. He also liked taking vacation cruises to Mexico and Hawaii with his housemates, and playing the slot machines whenever he could. He always looked forward to taking the train solo from Visalia to Modesto, where his sisters, Marilyn or Joan, would pick him up and take him to their homes in Calaveras County or Sacramento. Several months before his death, Bruce was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and was being treated for it at the hospital in Visalia. Returning home from his hospital stay, within a week, corona virus attacked him, and he was rehospitalized where he died after two weeks. He fought it with all his strength, and told his brother, "Gary, I'm getting there." Bruce is survived by his sisters, Joan (Lonnie) Mathis and Marilyn (Jim) Ramsey, his brother, Gary (Vicki) Benedix, ten nieces and nephews, and many cousins. With his phenomenal memory, he knew his nieces and nephews all by name: Kevin, Keir, Kyle, Aaron, Polly, Gretchen, Derek, Meghan, Jenifer, Tiffany, Christopher. He is deeply missed by all and especially his care home family: Christine Sandoval and the staff and his fellow care home residents at Sandoval Homes, Visalia. His parents; his sister, Jeanine; his niece, Meghan; and his maternal and paternal grandparents, preceded him in death. Memorial donations in Bruce's name may be made to: St. John and St. Luke Lutheran Church�P.O. Box 2151, Oakdale, CA 95361. A graveside memorial service is planned for later in 2021 at Burwood Cemetery, Escalon, California. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Bruce William Benedix

September 20, 1950 - December 28, 2020