Bruce Kevin Brown, age 67, of Ogallala, Nebraska (formerly of Sierra Vista, Arizona) died peacefully on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, in Ogallala.
Born in Arrington, Cambridgeshire, England on August 23, 1956, our dad became child number four of seven, to the late Rosvil and June Brown. Being an Air Force military brat, he “blessed” three school districts by attending their high schools and showed them all how to “have a good time”. He was an amazing athlete in both football and track. As a track star, he broke school records to include a US Defense Europe track record in the 400 and 200 meters. After leaving Europe, he graduated from Belton High School in Belton, TX.
He is one of the strongest men we know. Battling Stage IV cancer since September 2016, he was given only six months to live, but he said it would take a lot more than that for him to give up. It is no surprise that his favorite child was chosen to write his obituary. She is a lot like her dad, and she chose herself for this task. She is me, so hold onto your pearls because our dad was a retired boozer who loved being the “supervisor” of this thing called life.
As a young, driven entrepreneur, he started two cable businesses in the San Francisco Bay area. This created a passion for cable which guided him to bring his family to southern Arizona, establish roots, and finish his 30-year cable career. After retiring from a career in cable, he decided to become a trucker and get paid to see beautiful America. Being on the road for a little over 10 years, he fell in love with Ogallala, NE, which he was proud to call home.
If there was anything that our dad loved in this lifetime, it was his family. He and his now ex-wife, Kim, ran off as wild teenagers to get married in Carson City, Nevada, in April of 1976. He succeeded in one of his most important goals in life, which was to have six children within 10 years. In the late summer of 1977, they welcomed a strong-willed son, Michael, and in the winter of 1979, they were blessed with a princess named Sally. Our dad and mom needed a little break but started up again to have a special son, Dustin, in the spring of 1984, a beautiful daughter, Pauline, in 1985, another daughter in 1986, who later became his favorite child, Erica(me), and a baby boy Barret in 1987 who has been waiting in Heaven for his daddy since he was two years old.
Aside from his love for his family, our dad loved music, which meant he was the first one on the dance floor and the last one to leave. He was known for jamming out on his guitar and harmonica with his buddies and cousins and dancing the night away at every Oktoberfest that Sierra Vista had while we lived there.
He was preceded in death by both parents, Rosvil and June Brown, a brother Scott Brown, a nephew Christopher Brown, two grandsons Liam and Maximus Bush, and a son Barret James Brown.
Our dad is survived by us children: Michael (Chris) Brown of Buckeye, AZ, Sally (Mike) McGeoghegan of Sierra Vista, AZ, Dustin Brown of Rocklin, CA, Pauline (Manny) Brown Montero of Las Vegas, NV, and Erica (Jeff) Bush of Ogallala, NE; his grandchildren: Barrett, Claire, Paige, Dillon, Devon, Ethan, Bella, Mateo, Baby M, David, Brandon, Cameron, Ella, Mario, Anica, and Sophia; siblings: Becci, Julie, Marty, James, and Russel; several nieces and nephews, life-long friends, and neighbors that became friends.
A small celebration of life will be held in Arizona at a later date.
Online condolences may be left at www.drauckerfh.com
Draucker Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.