Nominated 2018. Jeanie Walker graduated from Berlin High School in 1960 as valedictorian. She received her BS degree in education from UW-Oshkosh and married Robert Bruce in 1963. She taught in elementary schools in Oshkosh, then in Bozeman, Montana while Robert was in college.
After Robert graduated, they moved to Minnesota and then to the Green Bay area where Jean was a stay-at-home mom and an active volunteer for 13 years. When their youngest child was nearing school age, she began taking courses to become re-certified to teach in Wisconsin. A shortage of teaching jobs, combined with her long-standing interest in health and medicine, led her to take courses in physics, organic chemistry, and genetics in preparation for entrance to medical school. She was accepted into medical school of UW-Madison in 1982.
The family faced a number of challenges in order for Jean to continue her studies. Medical school is difficult enough for a young, single student living in Madison, but especially challenging for a 40-year-old woman with a husband and 3 children living in Green Bay. She persevered and received her MD in 1986.
After completing a family practice residency in 1989, she began considering where to practice. After being gone for 29 years, the Bruces deciding to return to Berlin and Jean went into practice with Dr. Michael Shattuck. After 19 years as a family doctor, she retired in 2008.
Dr. Jean is a dedicated doctor, involved grandmother, activist, and school volunteer who is always willing to lend a helping hand. She is an inspiration to students and to anyone wanting to achieve a particular goal. Jean has shown that with hard work and determination your goals can be accomplished.
Dr. Bruce’s words for the Wall: I am honored to have been nominated and selected to be on the Inspiration Wall. I would like to think I am representing the parents, grandparents, teachers, volunteers, and others who inspire children every day. Being inspired to reach goals is important, but, hopefully, we also inspire children to speak up for what they think is right, to ask questions, to listen, and to consider others and their points of view and their goals as well.