Bruce Alan Piddington

Bruce Alan Piddington

April 21, 1939 - January 30, 2022

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Obituary

MADISON - Bruce Piddington, age 82, of Madison, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2022. He was born on April 21, 1939, the son of Margaret Gundlach and Percy Piddington.


After high school, in late 1959, Bruce attended UW Whitewater, where he met the love of his life, Janet Piddington, and they were married June 11, 1961.  In her own words, from a sweet letter she written to him on his 59th birthday, “my first memory of you was with your James Dean haircut and navy turtleneck. It caught my attention, and I knew you were the one.  You are my love, my partner and my strength.”


Bruce went on to become a teacher and taught for more than 30 years in the Madison Metropolitan School District.  He was recognized with dozens of awards including, the Outstanding Service Award, Golden Apple Award, Distinguished Teacher of Teachers Award, and a Roland and Ruth Rockwell Award.


Bruce was one of those people who made friends everywhere he went.  If you ran into Bruce at a coffee shop, you would have thought you were at a reunion.  So many of his old students would always be there, sharing stories of their old teacher.  Those relationships turned into friendships, for which he was so proud.


He was also a food lover.  He could be spotted all around town checking out different restaurants and adding his own flavors.  For those of you who didn’t know, Bruce loved his hot sauce so much that he would bring it with him wherever he went.


Bruce loved his family.  So many great memories of going fishing and arrow-head hunting (he was always so good at that!) or picking raspberries in the garden and then coming inside to hear the latest brain teaser he had been waiting to share.  He always took in every moment and savored them all.  He was deeply proud of his entire family.


Bruce is survived by his brother, Richard Haney; son, Mark Piddington; daughter, Lisa (Kenneth) Bent; seven granddaughters, Ashley (Nick) Ring, Sarah Jimieson, Brianna (Alex) Parker, Brittany Piddington, Kianna Bent, Leah Piddington and Chelsea Piddington; two grandsons, Tyler Piddington and Lance Piddington; great-grandchildren, Maddie Ring and Matthew Ring; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Janet Piddington (Lloyd); brother, Scott Piddington; and his son, Michael.


A memorial service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, at 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. Burial with military honors will be at Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.


Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420


Events

07
Visitation
Mon Feb 7, 2022 @ 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM CDT
Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Get Directions
07
Memorial Service
Mon Feb 7, 2022 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Get Directions

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Memories

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Bruce
SM
Sharon McPike
Other •
Bruce and Jan had a great impact on my life. He was a careful listener, inspiration and genuinely real person. I admired Jan for her many talents and learned from her. I will always remember them as an inspiration. I loved them.
KO
Katrina Olmstead
Other •
I loved Mr Piddingington he was my favorite teacher and my sons favorite also I always ran into him at woodmans. Hellow Mr Piddington he told me Tina you are a grandma now you can call me Bruce he will be missed the best teacher ever my heart is so sad so long to the most wonderful person
LA
Lisa Anderson
Other •
Bruce was a lovely man and neighbor. He was always welcoming and I loved spending time with the Piddingtons growing up. Lisa Anderson
NG
Nathan Gedko
Other •
This was one of my favorite teachers growing up.... he encouraged me to read like no other before him. Therefore helping me learn and opening my mind to differences in people, other cultures, traveling the world, just growth in general! He also taught my brother at East High who is 14 yrs older than I. I remember stories of them going to look for arrowheads together waaaay b4 he was my teacher. I probably saw him 10 yrs ago maybe more.... and we grabbed a coffee together(even tho I don't drink coffee🤣). He remember exactly who I was, and I was shocked bc it had been many years sense I was in his class(He still remember my brother as well). We reminisced about the past, talked about what I was doing and some of the places I had been(nowhere near to as many now😁). I really appreciated that meeting bc I was able to tell him how he influenced me in the right way!! Ill never forget that... I had wondered if I would randomly bump into him again, unfortunately that won't b the case😢 I am disappointed that I won't be able to attend the services on the 7th, bc Rio De Janeiro now, for my 5th time in Brazil.... so something worked Thank you Mr P!!! For you patience, time, and motivation... P.S. he even let me take his class twice, if I remember correctly it was a 1 semester class🙂 And believe me, I needed that class in more ways than one .... #graduation 🤣
DS
Debb Schaubs
Other •
Back in 1987 Andrew and I moved to Madison for a new job. It was a spur of the moment move and Uncle Bruce and Greatest Aunt Jan graciously let us stay with them for a couple of weeks while we apartment hunted. Bruce was able to tell us about EVERY neighborhood in Madison as we searched! Jan sang to 7 month old Madeline and let her plunk on the piano. Bruce thought it was hysterical that baby Maddie loved their big orange cat Wilber and tried every chance she got to crawl over to eat out of Wilber’s bowl (using just her mouth the way the kitty did). Fifteen years later when Mad had Bruce for one of her high school teachers, he teased that he’d tell her classmates that she was fond of cat food (as well as other tidbits gathered over the years). Bruce was an amazing uncle to us and great uncle to Maddie and Lewie. We all adored him and will miss him so much!
AT
Amber Taylor
Other •
Todd and I had the pleasure of living across the street from Bruce and Jan for many years until they moved. Bruce was always sharing flowers and veggies from him garden . He was out daughters own personal library and if I needed a new restaurant to try I knew to just as Bruce. We were saddened to hear of Jan's passing and now of Bruce. We send our condolences to the family. Keep the memories alive . Todd and Amber Taylor

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