Herbert Bruce Seel

Herbert Bruce Seel was born on August 21, 1955, to Herbert and Ava Louise (Keefover) Seel at the Bethesda Naval Hospital, their second child.

As his dad was a Navy man, the family lived in many places throughout his childhood. They moved back and forth from South Pacific Islands to Washington D.C. many times. His younger brother was born in Guam.

The longest they lived in any place was Charleston, S.C., which “Bruce” considered his home, as most of high school was there. In 1972, his dad retired from the Navy and the family decided to make Kansas their home as his mother grew up in Oakland in North Topeka.

Bruce graduated from high school in 1973 and decided he wanted to be a soldier. He enlisted that Fall just as the Vietnam War was winding down.

He enjoyed being a calvary scout, but not so much the missile site in East Germany near the Russian border. The men were warned never to disclose their work information or the missiles they worked with. It was the Cold War, and the Russian Red Brigade made efforts daily to procure information helpful to them. It was a very tense time. The soldiers knew that if their site was invaded, they would face a desperate and unwinnable fight to survive. This experience led to Bruce’s PTSD, anxiety, and depression. He never quite healed from the experiences.

When Bruce returned home, he went to a Vo-Tech school and learned electronics. He had a job as an electronics repairman for many years.

Bruce married Dorothy on May 27, 1994, and celebrated 32 years of marriage. His last years were a miasma of pain from injuries in the Army and a lot from motorcycle riding. He was one of the first members of the American Legion Patriot Guard and was its first Chaplain. They served as guards and stalwart allies to the grieving young families of soldiers returning home too young. It was a service that made him proud but also broke his heart.

Bruce went to sleep on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, and was finally able to be peaceful and comfortable after many years of pain.

He will be terribly missed by his many friends and his beloved wife. Eternal rest grant him, Oh Lord!

Visitation will be held from 9:15-9:30 A.M., on Thursday, July 9, 2026, with a rosary offered at 9:30 A.M., at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 14611B Waterman Crossing Rd., Maple Hill, KS 66507. A sung requiem Mass will be offered at 10:00 A.M., at the church. Following the Mass, Bruce will be escorted by American Legion Post 400 and return to the Holy Trinity Mausoleum at Mt. Calvary Cemetery for entombment. Military honors will take place with the United States Army and American Legion Post 400.

Memorial contributions can be made in Bruce’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

To share a memory or to leave condolences, please visit, www.brennanmathenafh.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Ave., Topeka, KS 66603.