Bruce Edward Liberty Jr.

Bruce Edward Liberty Jr., born November 7, 1953, in Toledo, Ohio, passed away on October 21, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer. A true warrior, Bruce faced his illness with remarkable strength, unwavering positivity, and determination.

Bruce was the beloved husband of Deb (Sopp) Liberty, with whom he shared 45 years of marriage. Together, they built a life centered on family, love, and lasting memories. He was a father to Katie Champeau, Nick Liberty, and Meredith Liberty, and a Papa to his five grandchildren: Finley and Layne Champeau, and Violet, Quinn, and Rowan Abel. His family was his greatest joy, and the love he had for them was evident in all that he did.

Bruce was the son of Bruce E. Liberty Sr. and Josephine (Vykopal) Liberty. He is survived by his brother, Brian Liberty (Sue) of Duluth, Minnesota, and his sister, Vickie Pitoscia (Greg) of Cottage Grove, Minnesota.

Bruce built a fulfilling career through hard work, dedication, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities. He began as a boilermaker, working aboard ore ships in the Duluth and Superior harbors, before becoming an HVAC technician. His greatest professional accomplishment came in 2009, when he founded his own business, Liberty Heating and Cooling proudly serving Cottage Grove and the southeast metro through 2025. His commitment to quality service and his strong belief in honesty and integrity earned him recognition with the Cottage Grove Small Business Award in 2016.

Bruce also pursued a second career in law enforcement, serving his community with dedication and pride. In the early 1990s, he began as a Cottage Grove Reserve Officer, where his commitment and service earned him the honor of “Volunteer of the Year.” After earning his law enforcement degree in 1994, Bruce continued serving as a part-time officer for the City of Cottage Grove. He completed his peace officer career after serving for 17 years as a full-time Minnesota State Fair Police Officer. Throughout his years in law enforcement, Bruce held a strong belief in community-oriented policing, valuing the importance of building relationships, fostering trust, and working together to keep the community safe.

A man of many talents, Bruce was mechanically gifted and could fix, build, or restore just about anything. He enjoyed bowling, golfing, fishing in the ocean and on local lakes, boating, camping, and traveling throughout the United States.

One of Bruce’s special passions was restoring a 1955 first-edition Chevy pickup truck gifted to him by his father-in-law. He took immense pride and joy in bringing the truck back to life, a reflection of his patience, craftsmanship, and appreciation for preserving something meaningful. Bruce was also a talented pencil sketch artist who brought Great Lakes ore boats to life on paper, capturing the vessels that had been such an important part of his life.

In life, most importantly, Bruce was a husband, a father, a papa, a brother and a friend. His strength, humor, generosity and steady presence touched the lives of many.

Bruce will be truly missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the PAN Foundation in memory of Bruce.

Open House Celebration of Life 1-4 PM, Thursday, November 19, 2026 at The Madison, 7310 Lamar Ave So, Cottage Grove, MN 55016.