Bruce Simones

A devout Catholic, Bruce Simones puts his strong faith into action by helping others. Simones serves as the volunteer custodian at Catholic Charities Warming Center, collects and distributes household items for The Exchange, does laundry at the Franciscan Hospitality House, and washes dishes at Place of Grace Catholic Worker House, where his presence is described as “a gift of goodness and grace.” After serving in the military, Simones worked 15 years as a nurse. In the midst of his career, he moved to Milwaukee to serve in inner city Catholic schools as a teacher, coach, and mentor. He invited three young men back to La Crosse as his foster sons. To have more time as a father, Simones left his nursing career and bought the Recovery Room tavern with partners. There he would be a type of surrogate father, big brother, friend, and employer for many Viterbo students over the years. “You have to do something, so you might as well do something worthwhile,” he said of his volunteer work.