Robert Brannon Brunswick
Born at home in Columbia City, Seattle to Herman and Winnie Brunswick on Labor Day, September 6 1926. He died, peacefully and at home September 2, 2010 in Kirkland, surrounded by his loving family.
He graduated from Franklin High School in 1944 and immediately joined the U.S. Navy where he earned the rank of Aviation Ordnanceman Third Class; testing, loading and calibrating weapons on WWII fighters.
In 1947, he met and married Colleen Walsh. They raised two children, Patricia Kaye, and Robert Jr. in the house Bob designed and built over a three year period on a next to his parents on Bennett Street in Columbia City. The family moved to Kirkland in 1965. This home he soon customized with his own personal style of quality of craftsmanship. Bob and Colleen were very active socially. Besides a shared love of golf, they enjoyed bridge, bowling, traveling and gathering with friends and family. Bob also enjoyed hunting and fishing.
He worked as a machinist at Boeings then went into building construction. After convalescing from a serious accident, he found his true vocation at George Pocock Racing Shells. Under George’s instruction, Bob became a Master Boatbuilder, crafting the cedar racing shells to the Pocock exacting standard of excellence. As Pocock began to build competitive shells using more modern materials, Bob continued building the elegant cedar single skulls for those with an appreciation for the traditional wooden boats. Using tools and equipment donated after his retirement to the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend , Steve Chapin of the Port Hudson boat shop , under Bob’s tutelage, has been replicating the Pocock single Skull Bob so loved.
At home, he was a skilled woodworker, always curious and ready to learn new techniques. He was equally competent whether building a house, heirloom cabinets, or creating an intricate jewelry box, while taking time to fashion fun wooden toys for the grandkids. Given freely, his creations, large and small, are spread far and wide and treasured by all!
Always a lover of golf, his last days were brightened by morning coffees at Wayne Golf Course, where he belonged to the Men’s’ Club. He enjoyed his visits with the duffers as they prepared to set out for a round.
Although he’d been struggling with illness, his passing came painfully too soon. He will be deeply missed by his loving family. We all relied on him for his many talents, his calm, stable manner and quick humor.
He has gone on to join his daughter, Pattee, who passed away in September of 2003.
Left behind to cherish their memories are his beloved wife of nearly sixty-three years, Colleen, Son Bob and Teri Brunswick, Sister Bonnie Peters, Grandchildren Mindy and Paul Barham, Andy and Amy Parker, Ellen Brunswick, Kyle and Thaela Brunswick and Katie McWhorter. He especially delighted in his Great-grandchildren Brady, Kaden, Erica, Hana, P.J., and Trae.
A memorial and celebration of Bobs life will be held at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Bellevue, on Saturday September 18th at 2:00PM.
Reception following in Pierson Hall.
Remembrances may be made to either St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Bellevue, Wa., or to the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend.
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