Bruce John Patterson, 70, of Clarendon Hills, Illinois, passed away peacefully on September 4, 2026, after a long but graceful struggle with Alzheimer's disease. He is survived by his wife Dru, his daughters, Rebecca and Emily, his stepchildren Katherine Condon (James), David Busch (Mikela) and Robert Busch (Meg), 7 grandchildren and his sister Jennifer Henson (Scott).  His parents, George and Joanne Patterson, (deceased) were longtime residents of Essexville, MI.

Growing up in Bay City, Michigan, Bruce discovered his lifetime passion for golf at the tender age of nine. Mentored by the high school golf team on the driving range, Bruce was a natural. Upon graduating from Bay City Central, he received a full scholarship for golf at the University of Michigan. After graduation he left to pursue his passion for the sport in Jupiter, Florida. His career brought him back to the midwest, ultimately becoming head pro, then director of golf at Butler National Golf Club in Oak Brook, Illinois. His 38 years of dedication earned him the rare honor of "Pro-Emeritus" status at the club.

His life was well-spent devoted to golf and most importantly, to the values that the game curates as you play--integrity, honesty, patience, self-discipline, resilience, humility, respect, sportsmanship, courtesy, perseverance, self -awareness and responsibility. Bruce personified the character that his beloved game demands. His leadership in the field as Illinois PGA President and national PGA Director is well known. His “pay-it-forward” attitude drove him to lead the IPGA charitable foundation for youth golf, giving lessons at Maryville Golf Academy,  and ultimately revitalizing the First Tee of Chicago. 

Golf was a defining part of Bruce’s life. His dedication to the game and to the people around it was recognized throughout his career. He achieved PGA Master Professional at age 33, awarded the Illinois PGA Golf Pro of the Year in 1993 and 1996, the Illinois PGA Teacher of the Year in 2001 and was recognized by Golf Digest as one of the top 100 Teaching Pros in the USA. It was no surprise when Bruce was inducted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame in 2023, an honor that reflected his accomplishments and his lasting impact on the Illinois golf community. His professional accomplishments, leadership, and contributions to golf earned him the respect of colleagues and players throughout Illinois, while his generosity and commitment to the game helped strengthen the golf community he served.

Bruce met his partner Dru late in life, but at the perfect time for both of them. Together they enjoyed 24 years of entertaining friends, golf trips and traveling around the country in support of Bruce’s role with the PGA. Despite all their fun adventures, Bruce and Dru were always the happiest when their house or dinner table were full. 

Bruce had a remarkable gift for making everyone feel valued, whether through his heartfelt deep dinner questions, his inclusive personality or the thoughtful way he celebrated others’ successes. His legacy lives on in these memories--a testament to a life lived with honor, kindness, unwavering devotion to his family, his passion for golf, and the many people whose lives he touched throughout his career and personal life. He leaves behind a lasting imprint of friendship, mentorship, integrity and steadfast support for all who were fortunate enough to know him.

He will be deeply loved, forever remembered, and greatly missed. A life well played.

A celebration of life will be held November 21, 10:00AM  to 11:00AM at Christ Church of Oak Brook 501 Oakbrook Rd Oak Brook IL 60523. A Reception to follow at La Grange Country Club at 1:00PM  in this Fall, date to be announced.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to .... IPGA Foundation, The First Tee of Greater Chicago….Maryville Academy - Designation Golf and Caddy Program.

IPGA Foundation Link:

https://charity.pledgeit.org/IllinoisPGADonation

First Tee:

https://firstteegreaterchicago.org/donate/

Maryville Academy Link: (select Golf and Caddy Program under Designation)

https://maryvilleacademy.org/donations/