JAMES BRUCE IOPPINI

Requiescant in Pace

James Bruce Ioppini, age 82 of Bakersfield, died September 12, 2023, in Bakersfield.  He was born October 28, 1940, in Taft, CA, and was raised at the North Belridge Area of Lost Hills. He was a graduate of Taft Union High School in 1958, and attended Taft college where he received an Associate of Arts degree in 1960.  He worked in the funeral service industry over 50 years, many of which were spent at Greenlawn in Bakersfield.  He graduated from the California College of Mortuary Science in Los Angeles in 1963, where he received an Associate of Arts degree in Mortuary Science.  When he was 57 years of age, Mr. Ioppini graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University in Bakersfield.  Bruce was always active in community affairs.  He was an Honorary Life Member of the Wasco Elks Lodge No. 2419, where he had served as the charter secretary, and held an Honorary Life Membership as member number five.  Five years after the Lodge was chartered, he served as its Exalted Ruler, and at the time of his passing he was the oldest in membership Past Exalted Ruler in the Lodge.  He was a past president of the Kern County Funeral Directors Association, a past president of the Kern County Public Cemetery Association, and a past president of the Rotary Club of Delano.  Mr. Ioppini was recently serving as the Adjutant/Judge Advocate of East Bakersfield Squadron 682, the Sons of the American Legion.  He was formerly a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, San Luis Obispo Parlor, and formerly a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles of Bakersfield.  He had been licensed as a California Funeral Director, Embalmer, Funeral Insurance Sales Agent, Cemetery Manager and Crematory Manager.  He also held a National Board Certificate in Funeral Service.  In recent years, he served the California State Department of Consumer Affairs as an expert consultant for the Funeral and Cemetery Bureau, and spent much time in Sacramento assisting in writing questions and answers for the various funeral and cemetery licensing examinations.  After surviving cardiac surgery, he really enjoyed his friends at the Cardiac Rehab at the Adventist Health Hospital Wellness Center.

One of Bruce’s great loves was music, and he spent many years as the organist for the traditional Latin Mass groups at Christ the King parish and St. Michael’s Chapel in Bakersfield.  When in high school he was a member of the Taft Union High School orchestra, where he played string bass.  He also served as the statistician for the football and basketball teams at Taft High.  Later, he sang in the famed Madrigal Singers of Taft College.

In November of 1967, in the Old Mission San Luis Obispo, Mr. Ioppini married the former Marjorie Maxine McNanna of San Luis Obispo, who survives.  Also surviving are two daughters, Amy Louise Daley and husband CWO3 David T. Daley, of the U.S. Marine Corps in North Carolina, and Emily Christine Ioppini-House, RN, BSN, and husband Alex House of Bakersfield; three grandsons, James McCoy, Hunter Daley and Gunnar Daley, all of North Carolina and granddaughters Hazel House of Bakersfield and Amelia Daley of North Carolina.  The extended family remaining are several nieces, nephews, and cousins.  Bruce was preceded in death by his father, Roger, mother Maxine; and his only sibling, his sister, Shirlee Mae Carnes Jackson, R.N.

All who wish to attend are invited to the informal viewing which will be held Sunday, October 8^th from 3–7 pm, with Recitation of the Rosary at 5 pm at Doughty- Calhoun-O’Meara.  The following day, Monday, October 9^th, Mass will be celebrated at St. Michael’s Chapel at 10 am. The Burial will be held the next day, on Tuesday, October 10^th, at 11 am in the family plot at Arroyo Grande Cemetery in Arroyo Grande.  Bruce did not want any flowers, but he did leave instructions that those who wish please donate in his memory to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. 

Ave Maria, Refugium Peccatorum, Ora Pro Eum!