Brumley, Robert (Bob) Sr.

Robert (Bob) Brumley Sr., 77, of North Fort Myers, Fla., formerly of Solon, died Saturday, March 24, 2012, at Physicians Regional Medical Center, Naples, Fla. Bob died from multiple complications following a brief, but sudden illness. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Teahen Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids, by Pastor Dan Wiersema of Immanuel Baptist Church. Friends may visit after 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial: Shueyville Cemetery. A reception will be held at Immanuel Baptist Church, Cedar Rapids, following the graveside services.

Bob was born on Jan. 29, 1935, near Vian, Okla. He was the youngest of 13 children born to Benjamin and Rachel Elizabeth Brumley. He spent his childhood in the rural Vian area and at age 17, eloped to Huntsville, Ark., with Doris Marie East (age 16), also of rural Vian. They were married on June 17, 1952. In the late 80s they reaffirmed their vows (just in case). Bob and Doris moved to Tulsa, Okla., where their two Children, Donna and Robert Jr. were born. Over the next decade and a half Bob worked as a small-business owner in automobile repair and the family lived throughout much of the Midwest, including Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas before finally moving to Cedar Rapids in 1969. Bob purchased his first of five AAMCO Transmission franchises and lived and worked in the area until retiring in 1985 as one of the most successful AAMCO franchisees in the company's history. Over the last several years he divided his residencies between rural Johnson County, Iowa, and the Fort Myers, Florida area.

Bob loved to hunt and fish. If he wasn't actually fishing, he was probably returning from fishing or planning his next fishing trip. Bob also enjoyed getting together with his friends and family to play cards or just sit and visit and swap stories. Bob's life experiences resulted in a veritable library of interesting and humorous stories that he loved to share with others. Bob cherished and loved his family. Bob loved to laugh. He had a lifetime love of music and enjoyed playing his guitar for others. It was just after such a performance at a North Fort Myers church service when he suddenly became ill.

Bob is survived by his wife, Doris of North Fort Myers, Fla.; their two children, Donna (Marie) Maddock of Mesa, Ariz., and her husband, Alan; Robert Jr. of Mazomanie, Wis., and his wife, Kathy; and his grandchildren; Allen Coberly of Mesa, Ariz., Adrian Beuthin of Seattle, Wash., Benjamin Brumley of Yukon, Okla. and his wife, Kerri, Sarah Vafadar of Oklahoma City, Okla., and her husband, Moji.

Bob is survived by only one of his 12 siblings, Albert of Sallisaw, Okla.; and two sisters-in-law, Calista Brumley of Tulsa, Okla., and Mary Brumley of Dallas, Texas.

Bob is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews too many to name individually (remember he was the youngest of 13 children) and numerous old and new friends; fishing pals and hunting buddies who shared his passion and enthusiasm for the outdoors.

The family would like to thank everyone for their kind words of comfort and encouragement.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Immanuel Baptist Church, Cedar Rapids in Bob's name.

Online condolences may be left for the family at .

Published in The Gazette March 28, 2012.