Bruce Farner

Bruce A. Farner, 66, of Springfield, MO, passed away on Sunday evening, August 10 at home surrounded by family and friends who will deeply miss him.

Bruce was born November 15, 1958 in Springfield to Donald and Opal Farner. He grew up in Lebanon, MO and graduated from Lebanon High School in 1977. He attended Drury College (now University) where he graduated in 1981 with degrees in Business, Marketing and Communications.

In a chance meeting in March of 1990, Bruce met who would become the love of his life, Kelly Palmer. After four years together, the two became united in marriage in a beautiful ceremony on May 28, 1994.

When starting his career out of college, Bruce managed several Walmarts in Joplin, MO and various locations in Texas. He moved back to Springfield and began working as a sales representative for Unisys. After Unisys he worked for Pitney Bowes for 18 years as a sales manager. His last job was also as a sales manager for Corporate Business Systems, now Sumner One, where he worked for 12 years before retiring in May of 2023.

Bruce was extremely successful in his sales career. His wife, Kelly, always liked to tell him “he could talk to a brick wall and it would answer.” His sister, Suzanne, would tell him that “he could sell a goldfish a fur coat.” He could talk to anyone about anything.

He enjoyed getting together with friends; loved the outdoors, Civil War battlefields, national parks, travel, cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean and beyond; and was an avid Missouri Tigers football fan. MIZ-ZOU!!!

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Kelly; sister, Suzanne Andreas (John); brothers, Steve (Marsha Kimrey) and Mark (Barb Mohn); several nieces and nephews and a host of extended family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the BarrelHouse at Mother’s Brewing, 215 S. Grant in Springfield on Thursday, August 28 from 6-9 p.m.