MURPHYSBORO - Bruce D. Rowland, 53, of Murphysboro, passed away at 1:59 pm, Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale.

Bruce was born in Sikeston, MO on December 18, 1963, the son of Larry R. and Brenda J. Branam Rowland.  He shared 28 years of marriage with Brenda M. Hartman.  They were married on June 17, 1989 at Chester.  Bruce attended high school in East Prairie, MO and graduated from Gorham High School in 1982, where he then joined the Marines and served as USM Lance corporal for 4 years.  Bruce worked 15 years for the Illinois Department of Transportation, where he got the nickname "Cookie" from many coworkers and friends.  He enjoyed metal detecting with friends and going to concerts, especially Mo Pitney and was a very active member of his place of worship, Hope Church of Carbondale.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Brenda Rowland of Murphysboro; daughters, Lindsay Marie and Amanda Genice Rowland of Murphysboro; Mother and step-father, Brenda and Orval Twenhafel of Murphysboro; father and step-mother, Larry and Patsy Rowland of East Prairie, MO; step sister, Rhonda Guisti of Florida; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Betty and Orville Hartman of Chester; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Nancy and Don Straight of Chester; nephews, Christopher and Erin Fox of Murphysboro and Brandon Straight of Huntsville, AL; nieces, Brittany Grace of Carbondale and Brooke Straight of Chester; and great niece and great nephew, Cadence and Memphis Fox of Murphysboro; maternal grandmother, Ella Mae Branam of Rockwood; maternal aunts, Tammy and Jerry Griffin of Rockwood; maternal uncles, Travis and Melanie Branam, Dale and Shirley Branam, Odell and Joyce Branam all of East Prairie, MO; paternal aunt, Linda and Merlin Lindsey of Hernando, MS; paternal uncle, Lionel and Debbie Rowland of Hernando, MS and a special uncle who was like a father, Jerry and Mary Ellen Rowland of Arlington, TN; and many cousins.

Bruce was preceded in death by sister, Laronda Grace; paternal grandfather, Herbert Rowland; paternal grandmother, Lennie Rowland; maternal grandfather, Louis "Jack" Branam; maternal aunt, Carla Jones.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 am, Monday, June 19, 2017 at the Wilson's Funeral Home in Ava with Rev. Josh Schatzle officiating.  Burial will follow at Goodbread Cemetery in Gorham.  Visitation will be at Wilson's Funeral Home, Ava, where friends may call from 5 pm until 8 pm Sunday and on Monday from 7:30 am until 11 am.  The preferred form of remembrance are contributions to a Love Fund for the Family.