Bruce Donald Buchanan

To live stream Bruce's funeral service click the "Tribute Wall" tab above and then click watch now on the "Live Webcast". Bruce Donald Buchanan passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July 26, 2020 at the age of 66. A Public Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:30 pm on Thursday, July 30, 2020 at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home in Urbandale. A Private Funeral Service will be held at 9:00 am on Friday, July 31, 2020. A live streaming of the funeral service will be available on Bruce’s Tribute Wall at www.caldwellparrish.com. A burial will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha, Nebraska. Bruce was born on March 19, 1954 to John and Katherine (Peterson) Buchanan in Omaha, Nebraska. He graduated from Burke High School in Omaha, Nebraska and went on to receive his Bachelor’s Degree from Drake University while playing football for the Bulldogs and then received his Master’s from the University of Iowa. Bruce married the love of his life Linda Elsasser on December 21, 1974 and together they raised two children. He was a hard worker who truly enjoyed working and took pride in his career accomplishments. Bruce was the President and CEO at Compass Clinical Associates; one of the largest and most comprehensive full service mental health agencies in the state of Iowa. He was the Past Chair of the Iowa Board of Social Work and chaired the ethics committee for NASW Iowa chapter. He was a clinical consultant for Human Services Agencies in Central Iowa, a Family Therapy consultant for the Greater Des Moines Child Abuse & Neglect Council, and a Diplomat in Clinical Social Work. Bruce was a Past-President of the Association of Social Work Boards and the former Clinical Chair of the Exam Committee of the Association of Social Work Boards. He continued to be a form reviewer for the ASWB exam and was a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics. Additionally, Bruce was a nationally sought after trainer and lecturer in the areas of child and adolescent therapies, reactive attachment disorder youth, social work ethics and residential treatment programming. Bruce was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award 1999, from the Child Abuse and Neglect Council, November 1999, the Iowa Chapter of NASW Social Worker of The Year for 2001. He was the recipient of the” Star of Excellence Children’s Service Provider ” award given by Magellan Behavioral Care of Iowa for 2008. Finally the recipient of the Margaret Hess Leadership in Family Empowerment Life Award presented to him by Youth and Sheltered Services of Ames, Iowa in 2012. Bruce devoted a lot of his time to the Boy Scouts of America. He was an Eagle Scout himself, and really enjoyed being involved and mentoring other boy scouts. He was a Council Executive on the Board of Mid Iowa Council Boy Scouts of America as well as a Silver Beaver Award Recipient and a Committee Member of Troop 61. Bruce also enjoyed jet skiing and watching Nebraska football, but always had time to spend with his grandchildren. Bruce is survived by his wife, Linda; his children, Andrew (Kristy) and Matthew (Sarah) Buchanan; his father, John T Buchanan; his brother, Doug (Dawn) Buchanan; his sister, Mary (Keith) Mach; his grandchildren, Katie, Molly, Abby, Liam, and Maggie; along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Katherine. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Mid Iowa Council Boy Scouts of America, National Alliance of Mental Illness of Central Iowa (NAMI), Orchard Place, or Young Women’s Resource Center. Online condolences can be expressed at www.caldwellparrish.com