Baldwin rite set Saturday at Gar/Pal

A memorial service will be Saturday, Dec. 9, for Bruce Baldwin, former Palouse mayor and longtime manager of Palouse Grain Growers. He died Nov. 19 in Seattle of complications from a bone marrow transplant. He was 59.

The service will be at the Garfield/Palouse High School gym at 2 p.m.

The City of Palouse flew its flag at half-staff outside city hall the week Baldwin died in honor of the town's mayor from 1996 – 1999. He served on city council from 1992-95.

Soon after Baldwin was sworn in as mayor, the flood of 1996 hit Palouse.

“Bruce was just a very good leader,” said Palouse mayor Michael Echanove, who was a city councilman during Baldwin's time as mayor. “He was always looking for the end goal. He didn't care about the credit or anything, just wanted it done and done right.”

Baldwin worked at Palouse Grain Growers since 1985, the year he moved to town.

He was instrumental in an ad-hoc group that started the Palouse Cabin Fever Brewfest, now in its sixth year, selling out each February.

“Bruce was really fun to be with, and easy to be with,” said Echanove. “You give him '70s music and craft beer and he was in heaven.”

Baldwin grew up in Pomeroy, graduating from Pomeroy High School in 1976 before spending three years at Whitman College in Walla Walla, where he played one season on the football team.

Before Palouse Grain Growers, Baldwin worked for Lewiston Grain Growers and Quincy Farm Chemicals.

Survivors include Baldwin's wife, Char, at the family home in Palouse; three stepchildren, Torrey (Scott) Beeson of Palouse; Tim Demand, also of Palouse, and Jolynn Gerardi, Orlando, Fla. He is survived as well by his father, Merle Baldwin, Lewiston, Idaho .; brother, Mark (Carla) Baldwin, Corvallis, Ore .; brother, Randy (Diane) Baldwin, Redmond, Ore .; sister, Jennifer (Chris) Ashby, Lewiston, Idaho; numerous nieces and nephews, as well as nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A stepson, Sgt. Jacob H. Demand, preceded him in death.