Bruce Howard Hoelter

Bruce Howard Hoelter, 88, of Rohnert Park, California; Bloomsbury, New Jersey; and Ocean City, New Jersey, passed away on May 7, 2026.  He was the devoted husband of Elizabeth (O’Connell) Hoelter; they would have been married 63 years on November 23^rd.

Bruce was born in San Francisco, CA on August 19, 1937, son of the late Eugene Ferdinand Gerhard Hoelter and Bessie Elizabeth (Brown) Hoelter.

Bruce graduated from Berkeley in 1959 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering.  He received his MS in Mathematics from San Jose State in 1965 and his MS in Mathematics from Rutgers in 1967.

He worked at Lockheed Space and Missiles in the research department from 1960 to 1965 and taught Mathematics at Raritan Valley Community College from 1966 to 2001. 

Bruce was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Somers Point, NJ, and Cross and Crown Lutheran Church in Rohnert Park, CA.  Bruce sang in the church choir and was active in NOAH (Neighbors Organized Against Hunger) as an outreach to feed hungry people in the Rohnert Park community. He held several board positions on NOAH. Bruce also sang in the Bach Choir of Bethlehem for many years.

Bruce and Liz enjoyed their Ocean City Beach House in NJ for many years with their family and friends until they officially retired to California. 

Bruce and his wife, Elizabeth “Liz,” a retired math teacher from Moravian Academy in Bethlehem, shared a love of travel and enjoyed exploring new places with family, friends, and their grandchildren.

Bruce will be remembered for his smile, friendliness, and willingness to help others. He had a kind and gentle nature.

Bruce is survived by his beloved wife, Elizabeth; their daughter, Danielle Hoelter (Jesse Chenven); their son, Paul Hoelter (Shannon); and his grandchildren, Lucia Hoelter, Ezra Chenven, and Abigail Hoelter. He is also survived by his sister, Lois Schielke (Bob), along with many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Robert “Bob” Hoelter . 

A Memorial Service honoring Bruce will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Old Chapel of Central Moravian, 445 Heckewelder Place, Bethlehem, PA 18018. The family will receive family and friends at a luncheon immediately following the service in the Christian Education Building of Central Moravian Church.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bruce’s memory to The Bach Choir (www.bach.org), 440 Heckewelder Place, Bethlehem, PA 18018; Moravian Academy (www.moravianacademy.org), 4313 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, PA 18020; Grace Lutheran Church, 11 East Dawes Avenue, Somers Point, NJ 08244 (www.gracelutheranspnj.org); or Cross and Crown Lutheran Church, 5475 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park, CA 98928-2925 (www.crossandcrownrp.org).