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Obituary: Joe Brummer
Author: Family of Joe Brummer

Joe Brummer

Family of Joe Brummer

Joe Brummer passed away from cancer complications on June 25th. He was born on December 5, 1948, to Josephine Alice Brummer and Joseph Brummer II and grew up in Sacramento, California. In 1967, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served until 1971 in Hawaii. He served a year in Vietnam. After his honorable discharge, he went to Fresno State University in California.

No services are planned at this time. A memorial service will be held later in the fall.

Most of Joe’s career was spent as a soil scientist with the Bureau of Reclamation. He lived in Billings from 1983 until 1988, before the Bureau of Reclamation was centralized, and after that he and his family moved to Arvada near Denver. He worked for the government all over the Western United States for at least 30 years. Besides working in soil, he also worked with a lot of irrigation projects. When he retired, he received a certificate of service signed by President George W. Bush. He liked Montana and moved to a farm 8 miles east of Townsend in 2005. He worked as a private soil scientist for lot owners in subdivisions.

Joe’s son said this about him: He was a great dad and husband. He coached my little league baseball. He taught me everything I needed to know about fixing houses and cars. He was always there for me, teaching me a lot of new stuff. He was always a good example. He was always a believer and a very honest man. As an example, if he went home after buying groceries, found that he had not paid for something, he would return to the store and pay for it. He was there for my sisters and me. He always gave great guidance and was always very patient.

He liked playing golf and played baseball when he was growing up. He was a good pitcher. He loved to fish; we would take the canoe or his boat out. We called it the Titanic because it sank a couple of times!

He was a good grandfather. He let us do a lot of the activities we wanted to do growing up. When I was playing hockey, he would take me to all the hockey games, and my sisters to figure skating, gymnastics, and meets. He and my mom would do that. We went all over the western United States doing that stuff. He loved to dance with my mom, Kathy. It was a lot of fun.

Joe always went to Church. He was a member of the Trailhead Christian Church and a very strong and faithful Christian. He followed Christ’s example of feeding the poor and helping others. He opened his house for strangers, donated often to the Broadwater Food Pantry, and helped the Helping Hands Thrift Store move to their new location.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Kathy, and his daughter Christine. He is survived by his son Joe Jr., who lives near Townsend, and his daughter Susan, who lives in California. Also surviving Joe and Kathy are their five granddaughters, named Alice, Josie, Sophia, Mary, and Rachel, and one grandson, Joey.

Joe has three brothers: Jim lives in Wisconsin, Jay lives in Boise, and John lives in Sacramento, California.

Although it is difficult to talk about it, a few days before his death, Joe seemed to be at peace and comfortable with the knowledge that he would be with Christ and his deceased family members. And there is no doubt at all that he is in Heaven now.

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