Bruce Sweeney Bruce T. Sweeney, 60, of St. Ignace, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, September 15, 2009, while bird hunting in Moran Township near the Caffey Truck Trail and Ozark Road. He suffered a heart attack.

He was born July 26, 1949, in Flint, to William J. and Margaret Elaine (nee Conarty) Sweeney and was graduated from LaSalle High School in 1967 and attended Northern Michigan University for three years. He was a member of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity.

Mr. Sweeney was a toll taker for the Mackinac Bridge Authority for 36 years, retiring January 24, and also worked on the Blue Water Bridge for a short time.

He loved the woods, especially bird hunting. He was a member of Michigan State Employees Association, Moose Lodge #999, and St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church.

He played softball for the Mackinac Bridge team some years ago and walked the bridge this year on Labor Day.

Mr. Sweeney is survived by a son and his family, Brian and Lesleigh Sweeney of Cheboygan; two daughters and their families, Brenda and Gary Salter and Beth and Jermaine Harrison, all of St. Ignace; a brother and his family, Dan and Marsha Sweeney of St. Ignace; an aunt, Violet Johnson of St. Ignace; nine grandchildren, Brandi, Hailey, Jacobb, Michael, Jaleel, Trevon, Bryanna, Travis, and Kemper; a great-grandson, Hunter; four nieces, Raquel, Jenifer, Margaret, and Kristen, and two nephews, Matthew and Patrick.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Larry, in 1978.

Visitation was Friday, September 18, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dodson Funeral Home with parish prayers at 8 p.m. Mass of Christian burial was Saturday, September 19, at 11 a.m. at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church with Father Pawel Mecwel, Father Norbert Landreville, Deacon Tom McClelland, and Deacon Don Olmstead officiating.

Burial was in St. Ignatius Cemetery.

Dodson Funeral Home of St. Ignace assisted the family with arrangements.

Pallbearers were Jerry Barkley, Jermaine Harrison, Dave Dell, Dean Steiner, Mike Bielat, Frank Ahlich, and Wayne Steiner.