Robert “Bob” Brubaker, of Bird City, Kansas, was born on March 14, 1923, to Fred P. Brubaker and Floy E. (Boren) Brubaker. He was the youngest of three children. Bob graduated in 1941 from Bird City High School and attended Fort Hays State College for one year and then transferred to Colorado State University. He joined the Army in 1943 and served in the artillery in the European theatre. Bob was honorably discharged in December 1945 and returned home.
On February 26, 1947, Bob was united in marriage with Carol Deeds. Six children were born to this union: Marilyn, Elizabeth Jane, Gwen, Charlene, Fred and Gary. In 1959, the family moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, where Bob completed his education at Colorado State University. Bob graduated in 1961 with a degree in agricultural economics.
The family then returned to Bird City where Bob built his farming operation. Bob loved the land and he was an avid outdoorsman, hunting and fishing in Kansas. He hunted big game in Colorado and Wyoming, geese in Nebraska, turkey in Oklahoma and he fished Texoma. Bob shot his last deer when he was 90 years old. Bob shared his love for hunting and fishing with his sons and grandsons.
Bob served his community in many ways. He served on the Board of Education in Edson and later in Bird City. He was on the first board for the Northwest Kansas Vo-Tech School which was responsible for building the first building for the school. Bob was on the Bird City Council. As mayor, Bob led the way for constructing the swimming pool and tennis courts. Together Bob, Edgar Robertson, Bob Jones, Floyd Wright and Floyd Jensen established the Century II Foundation for the betterment of the Bird City community. Bob oversaw the establishment of the current Bird City grocery store and he was instrumental in bringing in the Bird City Dairy. Bob served on the board of the Kansas Wheat Growers Association for several years. Bob also was an active member of the United Methodist Church, the American Legion, the Bird City Community Club and the Goodland Elks Club.
Having lived a principled life for 97 years, Bob passed away on March 23, 2020, at the Atwood Good Samaritan Home. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Carol, his parents, his sister, Winnifred Wamhoff, brother-in-law Alvin Wamhoff, brother Richard Brubaker, sister-in-law Darlene Brubaker, his cousin, Helen, and one son-in-law, Bob Miller. Bob is survived by his children, Marilyn Miller of Flagstaff, Arizona, Elizabeth Jane (Roger) Perkins of Park City, Gwen Houston of Topeka, Charlene (Ivan) Holzmeister of Hays, Fred (Susan) Brubaker of Fowler and Gary (Jane) Brubaker of Bird City, his 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Bob will be buried privately in Bird City and a memorial service will be held in Bird City at a later date. Memorials may be sent to Bird City Century II Foundation or the Bird City United Methodist Church.