Bruce Grey Forbes, 74, of Waterloo, died at home Thursday, Feb. 15, after a lionhearted battle with cancer. "Life is good" was his battle cry.

He was born June 30, 1949, in Seattle, the son of Ernest and Elvina Forbes. A graduate of Cedar Falls High School, he married Sharyn Qvern on June 28, 1969. They later divorced.

Bruce married Meta Hemenway on Oct. 3, 1998. He was a civil engineer and surveyor for the Iowa Department of Transportation for more than 20 years, retiring in 2011.

He is survived by his loving wife; children Shelly (Duane) McNulty, Wendy Smith, Kimberly Forbes, Amanda (Tyler) Cronan, Nicholas (Betheny) Cronan, Stevo Krickovic and Jelena (Ryan) Krickovic; grandchildren Kirsten, Dylan, Aaron, Trisha, Tiffany, Keegan, Julian, Seth, Taryn, Brayden Grey, Adam, Sophia, Rosalie, Ryker, Nova and Owen; and 13 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant daughter Dawn Marie.

Bruce was a math genius who loved his family, his faithful golden retriever Ducky, blues music, fast cars, softball and his 100-year-old teddy bears Tombo and Tedbo. He was the handiest among handymen, able to repair or build anything.

Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Locke Funeral Home Tower Park, 4140 Kimball Ave. in Waterloo. Memorial services are at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the funeral, with inurnment following at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Waterloo.

Memorials may be directed to the family.