Donald "Bruce" Knowles

On March 20, 2023, Fort Pierce native, Donald “Bruce” Knowles, 71, passed peacefully with his wife and daughter by his side. 

Known to his friends as Bruce, Mr. Knowles was born in Fort Pierce on March 13, 1952.  Mr. Knowles spent his whole life in Fort Pierce.  During his lifetime, he held several jobs, but by far his favorite was being a husband and father.  As a young man, he worked at White’s Tackle, Winn Dixie, and he fixed typewriters. Bruce also had a 30-year career with Budweiser.  Upon retiring from Budweiser, he started a home business tying jigs for several local companies.  To Bruce this was not a job because it kept him close to one of his favorite pastimes, fishing!  When he wasn’t working, you could find Bruce in a tree stand hunting, or fishing with family and friends. Everyone who knew Bruce would agree he was one of a kind.  He was the genuine article, someone who would give you the shirt off his back, make you laugh hysterically until you were on the verge of tears and who was a true gentleman, a man who would open the car door for his wife and buckle her in! He was the real deal and those who knew him were better for it.

Mr. Knowles is survived by his wife, Marie Knowles; son, Ryan and his wife Jackie Knowles, daughter, Cassye Wynkoop; son, Clayton Eckert; sister, Mari Beall; grandchildren, Lia Giannotti and Chloe Knowles, Leah Madison and Jase Wynkoop; lifelong friends, Paul and Marianna Lewis, Dave Justice, Tom Lewis, Ed and Gail Lewis, Carl and Valorie Dewitt and so many more.  His family and friends are having a celebration of life ceremony at Little Jim’s at a later date and time.  The family is having a private service for immediate family only. 

A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 10 AM to 12 PM at the Little Jim Bridge (601 N Causeway, Fort Pierce, FL 34949).