- Born on: February 20, 1950
- Departed on: September 28, 2019
- Resided in: Clarksville, IA
Robert (Bubba) Brooks
Robert Allen (Bubba) Brooks, age 69, of Clarksville, Iowa was the son of Solon and Mary Bowen Brooks. Born at the naval base in Patuxent River, Maryland on February 20th 1950, Bubba spent the first 10 years of his life in several locations as his father completed his career in the Navy.
In 1960 his parents settled in Chatsworth, California. Bubba finished high school there before enlisting in the Navy and being deployed on the first of three tours he completed to Viet Nam.
Between his time in Viet Nam and when he met his wife Wendy in 1999, Bubba lived an inconsistent and wide ranging lifestyle which he chose not to recall or share with his friends and family. PTSD, as a result of war and childhood traumas were his good reasoning to put away those memories.
Bubba learned to play 12 string guitar as a teen and loved to sing and play both folk and Southern Gospel music. He participated in ministries, both in Texas and Iowa, playing music for those in nursing homes and care centers.
Bubba met his wife, Wendy Smith in Fontana, California in February 1999. Within 10 days and 2 dates he proposed marriage. Wendy made him wait 4 months for a reply and they were married January 29th, 2000. Bubba and Wendy’s marriage was as joyful and loving as a marriage could be. Through many financial and medical trials which spanned many states and nearly 20 years, nothing proved enough to dampen their affection or commitment to one another. In 2015 Bubba and Wendy renewed their wedding vows to seal their covenant before God, their family and church.
In 2004, while living in Calimesa, California, Bubba became quite ill and began a rollercoaster of health issues which he experienced off and on for 15 years. Because of his health journey Bubba and Wendy became quite adept at navigating the VA health care system and familiar with a myriad of procedures and medications.
Bubba and Wendy were saved and baptized in the Cedar River in Waverly in 2008. Bubba’s greatest passion was his faith in Christ his Savior, his second greatest was to protect and insure the happiness of his wife and family. He adored his church community and was convinced there would never be a stranger, only someone he had yet to “Bubbify”.
Shortly after Easter in 2015 Bubba and Wendy made the acquaintance of Mlungisi Ncube, an international student at Wartburg College. The more time they spent together the closer they became and for the past several years Mlu has become the son of their heart. Passion for Jesus and music were just two of the things that drew them together.
Living in many places together, Bubba enjoyed San Angelo, Texas very much. He and Wendy lived on an acreage outside town and were very active in animal rescue and foster care. In their 5 years in Texas they fostered over 220 dogs and dozens of donkeys. He loved to sit among the herd of donkeys and help warm them up to people with the help of Milk Bone dog biscuits. It was also in San Angelo that they found the church home which suited them best, within a Baptist congregation.
Bubba also enjoyed boating and fishing. When able he loved to take his fly fishing pole to the water and practice his casting. Never an accomplished fisherman, he was not daunted and enjoyed the relaxation and pleasure all the same. Fishing gave him an opportunity to connect with others pursuing the same hobby and he enjoyed that tremendously.
Bubba suffered a massive stroke on September 25th and was taken home to his Lord and Savior on September 28th at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City.
In 1960 his parents settled in Chatsworth, California. Bubba finished high school there before enlisting in the Navy and being deployed on the first of three tours he completed to Viet Nam.
Between his time in Viet Nam and when he met his wife Wendy in 1999, Bubba lived an inconsistent and wide ranging lifestyle which he chose not to recall or share with his friends and family. PTSD, as a result of war and childhood traumas were his good reasoning to put away those memories.
Bubba learned to play 12 string guitar as a teen and loved to sing and play both folk and Southern Gospel music. He participated in ministries, both in Texas and Iowa, playing music for those in nursing homes and care centers.
Bubba met his wife, Wendy Smith in Fontana, California in February 1999. Within 10 days and 2 dates he proposed marriage. Wendy made him wait 4 months for a reply and they were married January 29th, 2000. Bubba and Wendy’s marriage was as joyful and loving as a marriage could be. Through many financial and medical trials which spanned many states and nearly 20 years, nothing proved enough to dampen their affection or commitment to one another. In 2015 Bubba and Wendy renewed their wedding vows to seal their covenant before God, their family and church.
In 2004, while living in Calimesa, California, Bubba became quite ill and began a rollercoaster of health issues which he experienced off and on for 15 years. Because of his health journey Bubba and Wendy became quite adept at navigating the VA health care system and familiar with a myriad of procedures and medications.
Bubba and Wendy were saved and baptized in the Cedar River in Waverly in 2008. Bubba’s greatest passion was his faith in Christ his Savior, his second greatest was to protect and insure the happiness of his wife and family. He adored his church community and was convinced there would never be a stranger, only someone he had yet to “Bubbify”.
Shortly after Easter in 2015 Bubba and Wendy made the acquaintance of Mlungisi Ncube, an international student at Wartburg College. The more time they spent together the closer they became and for the past several years Mlu has become the son of their heart. Passion for Jesus and music were just two of the things that drew them together.
Living in many places together, Bubba enjoyed San Angelo, Texas very much. He and Wendy lived on an acreage outside town and were very active in animal rescue and foster care. In their 5 years in Texas they fostered over 220 dogs and dozens of donkeys. He loved to sit among the herd of donkeys and help warm them up to people with the help of Milk Bone dog biscuits. It was also in San Angelo that they found the church home which suited them best, within a Baptist congregation.
Bubba also enjoyed boating and fishing. When able he loved to take his fly fishing pole to the water and practice his casting. Never an accomplished fisherman, he was not daunted and enjoyed the relaxation and pleasure all the same. Fishing gave him an opportunity to connect with others pursuing the same hobby and he enjoyed that tremendously.
Bubba suffered a massive stroke on September 25th and was taken home to his Lord and Savior on September 28th at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City.
Memorials may be sent to: Wendy Brooks at 207 S. Ely Street, Clarksville, IA 50619.
