Bruce Max Hoggard
January 31, 1951 — June 24, 2023
Pleasant Grove

Bruce Max Hoggard, 72, passed away in the American Fork Hospital on June 24, 2023 after several years battling many health issues.

He was born on January 31, 1951 in American Fork, Utah to Max Hoggard and Kathryn Holindrake Hoggard.

Grandparents: Vern and Emma Boley Holindrake; Earnest and Martha (Mattie) Proctor Hoggard

Siblings: Sheila Wolf, Sheldon Wolf

Wife: Terree Hoggard

Children: Jeffery Bruce Hoggard, Lori Ann Hoggard Pratt, Katie Marie Hoggard Burton, Jason Max Hoggard

Bruce’s education included attending Forbes Elementary, American Fork Jr. High School, American Fork High School (Graduating in 1969), Utah State University, Brigham Young University (Graduating with a Bachelors in 1974, and later Master’s Degree around 1984).

Bruce grew up loving sports. He enjoyed playing baseball, playing on the Little League, Pony League, and the American League Teams. One of his fondest accomplishments was that he played as point guard for the American Fork High School Basketball team. Residents of American Fork knew Bruce well for his endless hours of practicing and preparing to play on the high school team. His hard work paid off when he was declared player of the Week in the local newspaper. His time spent playing sports influenced his decision to become a coach and sparked his love for teaching and working with teenagers as a teacher and later a high school counselor. His love for the Cavemen led to a 25-year career at American Fork High School.

Bruce had a great love for agriculture that developed from working on the family farm at a very young age. His dad, Max, taught him to thin beets, top onions, and pick potatoes. At a very young age, he learned hard work ethics by hauling hay and straw, and by operating and fixing heavy farm equipment. Bruce’s dad, Max, and his grandfather, Vern Holindrake, were the largest influence on him learning the value of hard work and the value of growing things. He had a great love for the farm, including the horses, that were always such an important part of the Hoggard family. Bruce later spent the summer between his Sophomore and Junior year in High School working on a large farm in Grace, Idaho. Bruce spent most of the summer between his Junior and Senior year in high school working on another farm in Bancroft, Idaho.

Even though Bruce’s family growing up was split by divorce, he felt that he was blessed with wonderful parents. His mom, Kathryn, and his dad, Max, put everything into raising their child the best they could. Bruce’s mom was full of love and many people told Bruce he was her entire world. She always shared as best she could in his interests. This included sleeping in tents on camping trips, playing catch with him, and often bowling with him. She always attended the thousands of games that Bruce played in. Bruce’s dad not only taught him the value of hard work on the farm but was also his biggest supporter as a coach. He often drove hundreds of miles to places in Idaho, Washington, and Utah to watch the teams that Bruce coached and to offer his loyal support.

Bruce graduated from American Fork High School in May of 1969. He loved American Fork High School and all his special friends, including staff and teachers. Five days following his graduation, Bruce joined the army and was in basic training at Ft. Lewis, Washington. He completed basic and advanced training at Ft. Lewis in October of 1969. Bruce was then assigned to airborne training jump school at Ft. Benning. Ga. Following jump school, he was sent to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, for special forces training, receiving the Green Beret on December 19, 1969.

Bruce was assigned to the 19th Special Forces group at Camp Williams in April of 1970. In May of 1973, he became the Supply Sergeant for company B of the 19th Special Forces in Provo, Utah. He was honorably discharged in 1975. Bruce had a great love for his country and the men and women who served and sacrificed so much.

Bruce attended Utah State University and BYU, receiving a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. His love of sports and young people’s strengths led him into coaching. His first job as head coach was at Wiskah Valley High School in Aberdeen, Washington. He later moved on to Malad, Idaho, Duchesne, Utah, North Sever High School in Salina Utah, and then 25 years at his Alma Mater, American Fork High School, where he served as an assistant coach in football and basketball while teaching social studies. After receiving a master’s degree in educational psychology, Bruce spent the rest of his career working as a guidance counselor. Bruce worked with thousands of young men and women and always felt that his primary job was to help them become better people by learning from their experiences in sports and in the classroom. Bruce always said he was weird because he had a great love for teenagers. This love he felt for the many teenagers he taught and coached at the various schools he worked at is shown by the countless people who still interact and show their appreciation for him from their high school years. Bruce also loved the many coaches, teachers, counselors, administrators, and staff he worked so closely with and were such great friends.

Bruce met his wife at a Pleasant Grove Stake dance in 1968. They courted for almost five years and were married on April 20, 1973 in the Manti Utah Temple. Bruce often referred to his wife as the greatest support of his life, and referred to her as one of the reasons he was able to accomplish so much. Honoring and keeping their temple covenants has been the key to their successful marriage. Last April, they had the opportunity to celebrate 50 years of happy marriage. Bruce and Terree’s love and parenting has influenced their children and will continue to influence generations to come.

Bruce was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving in many callings including bishop, and counselor in the stake presidency. He spent many hours in the service of others and the service of his Heavenly Father.

Bruce is preceded in death by his father Max and his mother Kathryn. He is survived by his wife Terree, his son Jeff (Vicki), daughter Lori (David) Pratt, daughter Katie (Garrett) Burton, and son Jason (Emily). He is also survived by his stepbrother Sheldon Wolf and stepsister Sheila Wolf. Bruce also leaves 11 grandchildren.

Nothing was more important to Bruce in this lifetime than his family.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, July 1st at the Mount Mahogony Stake Center, 1548 North 900 West Pleasant Grove, Utah at 1:30 PM. Viewings will be held Friday, June 30th from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Anderson and Sons Mortuary, 49 East 100 North American Fork, Utah and Saturday July 1st from 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM at the Mount Mahogony Stake Center, 1548 North 900 West Pleasant Grove.