Bruce Klanderman was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to John and Winifred Klanderman. He learned to play the clarinet, the piano, and the organ during his teenage years. Following his graduation from Calvin College in 1959 with majors in chemistry and mathematics, he attended the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign where he earned his Ph.D. in organic chemistry. He was married to Alice (Bos) Klanderman from 1960 until she passed away in 2007. He was later married to June (Lemmer) Klanderman from 2009 until she passed away in 2025.

Bruce worked for nearly 30 years at Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, New York. After working in the research labs for nearly a decade, he shifted to management positions, retiring as the head of the Environmental Technical Services division. He later worked part-time as a consultant for Radian Corporation before fully retiring in 1998. From 1954 until 2024, he served as an organist for a total of ten Christian Reformed and Reformed Churches, including approximately 35 years as principal organist at both Webster CRC and Rochester CRC while he lived in Rochester from 1963 until 2005. He viewed his greatest service in worship as his ability to accompany congregational singing with carefully chosen registrations, and he played preludes, offertories, and postludes that aligned with preaching texts for that week.

Bruce is survived by two sons (Tom and Sandi Klanderman, Dave and Barb Klanderman) five grandchildren and their spouses, and six great grandchildren. He is predeceased by his brother (John) and his third son (Paul). Among June's family, he is survived by her two daughters (Patti and Doug Veenstra, Nancy and Dan Kroeze), her daughter-in-law (Judy Woltersom), and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is predeceased by June's son (Jim Woltersom).

Visitation is scheduled for 12:30pm on Saturday, December 20 at the Raybrook chapel. A memorial service at the chapel begins at 2pm with seasonal refreshments immediately following in the entry area of the chapel. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be given to the Klanderman Family Chemistry Scholarship at Calvin University or the Alice Klanderman Scholarship for Excellence in Preaching at Calvin Seminary.