Robert Bruce Latoski

Robert Bruce Latoski passed away peacefully the morning of September 5th, 2026. He was born December 14th, 1953 to Robert Ahrens and Mary (Latoski) Arnold in Rawlins, Wyoming.

Bruce spent the first few years of his life in foster care, living mostly with the Christiansen family of Loveland. He recalled having fond memories of his time with them. In 1957 he was welcomed into his forever home by Walter and Ruth (Wells) Latoski. While they may not have been his birth parents, they were Mom and Dad and made that official through adoption in August of 1960.

Bruce attended school in Laird through the 8th grade. It is there he developed a love for sports and activities, specifically football and wrestling. He was also an active member of the Boy Scouts, earning his Eagle Scout badge in 1968. He attended high school in Wray and was a part of the class of 1972. While in high school, he participated in football and wrestling. As a football player he was an All-State linebacker in 1971. As a wrestler, he placed 3rd in 1970. As a senior in 1972, he was the AA 167-pound State Champion, and received the Denver Post Outstanding Wrestler award.

After high school, he attended Colorado University for two years on a wrestling scholarship. In 1974, he returned home to the family farm and ranch. He did custom hay work on the side, while also helping his mom and dad.

In 1982, he met Kim Marie Morton. She was working as an Ag Teacher at Wray High School. They were married December 15, 1983. They were married for just shy of 43 years. To this union, James Allen and Barbara Marie were born. He was a stoic and quiet man but was so proud of their accomplishments and loved being a Grandfather to Barbie and her husband Mike’s daughter Tatum.

Bruce devoted most of his adult life to two things outside of his family: Agriculture and Wrestling. He loved his Red Angus cows and wheat farming. He spent most of his life raising those two things.

A book could be written about his involvement in wrestling but we’ll keep it brief. In 1983 he started the Wray kids' wrestling program along with Dean Wingfield. They led that together for about 13 years before Bruce moved into the role as an Assistant Coach for Wray High School, a position he maintained for 20 years. He loved coaching. He could reach the most unreachable kids. His standards were the same for everyone. He was the calm you wanted in your corner.

Prior to taking the Assitant Coach position, he had also been a referee and a member of the Colorado Wrestling Officials Association. He reffed many area tournaments and regionals and was selected to be a State Tournament official on two occasions. In 2022, Bruce was rewarded for his lifelong passion and dedication to the sport of wrestling by being selected to the Colorado Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, an honor that was both humbling and well-deserved.

Bruce also taught leather craft and was a Beef Leader for over 20 years in Yuma County 4-H. He served on the boards of both the Pioneer Ditch and Republican River Water District and the Laird Community Center. He worked for the Yuma County road and bridge department for a few years later in life, while also taking time to help neighbors Doug Renzleman and Alan Welp harvest their crops.

As many know Bruce smoked for 40+ years. You’d often see him come back in at wrestling tournaments and his signature glasses would be dark. The wrestlers all knew he’d been out for a break and liked to tease him about it. However, after a heart attack in November of 2018, he quit cold turkey, which was a testament to his mental toughness. After that, his health improved and he was back as active as ever.

October 15, 2022 is a day that none of us will forget and one that altered every aspect of Bruce’s life. That was the day he laid a semi load of beets over and suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury. It took his short term memory and his softness, but he was able to fight through so much. His last 4 years did not turn out the way he or any of us would have wanted, but we were certainly thankful for the extra time we received with him. He was loved. He will be missed. He won’t be forgotten!

Bruce is survived by his wife of 42 years, Kim Latoski of Wray. His children: James Allen Latoski of Thedford, Nebraska and Barbie and Mike Garnett of Evergreen, Colorado and their daughter Tatum. His sister and brother in-law Judy and Greg Schafer of Wray. Niece Courtney Schafer of Wisconsin and nephew Eric Schafer and his family of Wray. A half sister Sandee Swanson of Florida along with many other family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Ruth Latoski. Birth mother, Mary Latoski Gray. Along with his father in-law Arnold Morton.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Wray, Colorado.

Memorials may be made to either the Wray Wrestling Club, Wray FFA Scholarship Fund, or the Yuma County 4-H Club.