Bruce Edward Niemi

Bruce Niemi was born on April 24, 1949, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Kathlyn Elizabeth (Korten) Niemi and Edward Touri Niemi. He passed away on December 1, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from a short illness. A lifelong Tulsan with brief chapters in Washington, D.C., Oakland, California, and El Paso, Texas, Bruce attended Bishop Kelley High School and graduated from Edison High School in 1967. He went on to study at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. A committed lifelong learner, Bruce later received a Master's in Occupational and Adult Education and a PhD in Education from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. He also completed the Education for Ministry program through the University of the South School of Theology. Bruce embodied, stoutly embraced, heart and intellect, grace and gratitude. He was charismatic in a quietly magnetic way, the kind of person who made others feel immediately comfortable, heard, and cared for. A natural conversationalist, he loved engaging with people from all walks of life, and could effortlessly draw friends and strangers alike into animated, winding conversations on every imaginable topic. He had a gift for making others feel part of the fold, no matter where the discussion began or where it wandered. Bruce was an exceptional husband and father, and a longtime parishioner of Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Tulsa. He loved touring the backroads of Oklahoma-knowing every small town and its history by heart-reading political theory and biography, and immersing himself in the rhythms of local politics. For much of his life, Bruce served the public as an educator, teaching political science and government at Tulsa Community College and local high schools. His classrooms were lively, demanding spaces where students were treated as citizens-in-training. He encouraged them to push beyond theory into practice-to engage with the messy, human world and make real change. In 1990, Bruce was elected to represent District 78 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives (1991-1993). His legislative work combined clarity of purpose with deep empathy. He championed fair wages, labor protections, local government innovation, and revitalized technical and vocational education. He amplified the voices of working families and brought integrity and realism to the legislative process. Bruce's civic life extended far beyond elected office. He served on the Tulsa County Election Board, working to ensure that elections were functional, fair, and fully participatory. From 2022 to 2025, he chaired the Tulsa County Democratic Party, where he rebuilt precinct engagement, championed data transparency, mentored new candidates, and strengthened the Party's accountability to a diverse and often divided community. He served on the boards of anti-poverty and community health organizations and, at times, took on city manager roles in small Oklahoma towns. Always in motion, Bruce was appointed in September to the Metro Transit Authority, where his commitment to equity met his passion for accessible public transportation. He also represented Tulsa multiple times as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, consistently supporting candidates driven by vision rather than expedience, including Bernie Sanders. Bruce is survived by his wife, Judge Theresa Dreiling; his children, Meredith Susan Niemi of Tulsa and Julie Abell Niemi of Brooklyn, New York; his siblings, Madalene Lanphere and Stuart Niemi; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Scott Niemi. The family extends its heartfelt thanks to the Rev. Cheryl Harder-Missinne, Associate Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, for her prayers and comfort, and the many other clergy at Trinity. The family would also like to thank the many doctors and nurses for their care, support, and guidance during an especially difficult time. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church in Bruce's memory. Visitation will take place at Moore Funeral Home, 25th and Harvard, on Thursday, December 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. A service celebrating Bruce's life will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church on Friday, December 5, at 1 p.m.

Bruce Edward Niemi

April 24, 1949 - December 1, 2025