Bruce Love Nussman, 81, passed away October 29, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Bruce was born on November 24, 1935 in Kannapolis, North Carolina. After high school, he proudly served in the US Army in one of the first Nike guided missile units in Texas and Michigan. Upon his return, he began working full-time in the trucking industry for White Motor Heavy Duty Trucks and enrolled in night classes at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte earning an Associate Degree in Business. It was in one of his classes that he met and fell in love with Peggy Jean Carriker. They married in 1963, moved to Jacksonville, Florida and raised three daughters.

He finished his career with Volvo GM Heavy Truck Corporation and was proud to have owned one of the first cell phones ever made. The installation of it in his car consumed the majority of his trunk space. He paid for the incredibly expensive mobile phone and high-priced service out of his own pocket and recouped the annual cost in less than a month because of his constant availability as a salesman. This move was a huge innovation for his time.

Bruce spent much of his spare time boating on the St. Johns River. He had a boat for every occasion. The Donzi speed boat was for watersports. The Chris Craft was for leisure cruising. The Fish Nautique was for fishing. The 38-foot high-performance, offshore racing boat was for speed. Obviously. He was even passionate about collecting nautical antiques.

Bruce loved restoring antique and classic cars. He started with the restoration of a 1929 Chevrolet Coupe while attending college, and over time, owned many classic cars. Bruce still owns his fully restored 1941 Lincoln Continental Mark I and 1951 Jaguar XK 120 roadster. His family still misses the 1966 Lincoln Continental with suicide doors that he sold many years ago but have decided to move on. He continued to show his meticulous, award-winning cars in regional car shows and attended local cruise-ins.

Bruce always wore shorts and boat shoes, had a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other, while somehow consuming salted peanuts. He would always share a big, warm smile with everyone he met. His family will miss that smile more than they miss that '66 Lincoln.

At 81, it is no wonder he is predeceased by his parents Love Nussman and Eva Geneva Pickler Nussman. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Peggy Carriker Nussman; brother, John Nussman; his three children Cynthia (Lee) Brannon, Tara Westerhold (Greg Feld) and Elizabeth Ashley (Ronnie Jr.) Bryant. Bruce has six grandchildren: Lee Jr. and Travis Brannon; Emily Westerhold; and Nichole, Josie, and Sadie Bryant. He also has four great grandchildren.

The Nussman family will receive friends for a Visitation Gathering and Car Viewing at 4 PM, Thursday, November 2, 2017 at Arlington Park Funeral Home, 6920 Lone Star Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32211. A private interment service will be held in Kannapolis, North Carolina at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the City Rescue Mission.