CASTORLAND – Bruce E. Hirschey, 73, passed away on April 9, 2021, at the Wilmot Cancer Institute at Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, after a courageous battle against cancer, surrounded by his wife Gayle, and children Aaron, Jacob and Rachel.
Calling hours will be held noon to 2 and 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 15, 2021, at Iseneker Funeral Home, Inc., Lowville. The funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, April 16, 2021, at Apostolic Christian Church of America, Croghan, with ministers of the church officiating. Masks are required, and please follow current Covid guidelines. The funeral will also be available on Zoom. Information will be provided at www.isenekerfuneralhome.com. The graveside service will be held at 12:30 p.m. in Castorland Union Cemetery, Church Street, Castorland.
Bruce was born on Nov. 10, 1947, in Lowville, a son of the late Leland and Bernice Farney Hirschey. He graduated in 1966 from Lowville Academy and Central School.
On Sept. 11, 1971, he married Gayle Lamoy at the Peru Community Church in Peru, NY. The couple would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this September.
Over his career Bruce worked for the NYS Conservation Department, the Village of Lowville, Rennie’s Sales and Service, the Town of Denmark, the Mohawk, Adirondack and Northern Railroad, and Slack Chemical Company.
Bruce was a member of the Castorland Fire Department.
He enjoyed traveling, writing poems, train watching, riding motorcycle, and fixing “everything”. Bruce always sought to and enjoyed helping and visiting with others.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Gayle; his children, Aaron Hirschey (Janis) of Port Leyden; Jacob (Leah) Hirschey of West Monroe; Rachel Hirschey (Matt) of Eagle, Colorado; his siblings, Wendy Hirschey Mohrman; Ronald Hirschey; Michael (Judy) Hirschey; Martin (Linda) Hirschey; Randall (Shirley) Hirschey; Norman (Vikki) Hirschey; Loren Hirschey; Daniel Hirschey; Sara (Scott) King; Martha Ciulla (Brian); Becky Hirschey; Kristina Panowicz (Byron); and Laura (Samuel) Villanti; seven grandchildren, Jonathan, Emma, Alex, Emmet, Vanessa, Laurel and Linden; an aunt and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Bruce wass predeceased by his parents; an infant sister, Diane; his brother and sister-in-law, John and Molly Hirschey; and his brother-in-law, Timothy Panowicz.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, PO Box 98018, Washington, DC 20090-8018; Blood & Marrow Transplant Information Network, 1548 Old Skokie Rd., Suite 1, Highland Park, IL 60035 or www.bmtinfonet.org/products/donate-now ; or the American Red Cross of Western New York, 786 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY 14209. These organizations were so helpful to Bruce and his family. He himself donated over 13 gallons of blood in his lifetime. Please consider a donation to these organizations, or any other cancer research organization of your choice.
Condolences may be shared with the family at www.isenekerfuneralhome.com.