Brobst, James D.

James D. Brobst, 79, of Cedar Rapids, died Sunday, April 22, 2012, at St. Luke's Hospital. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Noelridge Christian Church by the Rev. Stew Royce. Interment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Amy; children, Susan (Michael) Hall of Cedar Falls, John Brobst of Cedar Rapids, Debra (Greg) House of Denver, N.C., and Cindy (Kevin) Peters of Dysart; five grandchildren, Nathan, Emily, Brian, Brandon and James; brothers, Bill (Allene) Brobst of Ingelwood, Colo., and Bob (Betty) Brobst of Holiday Lake; sister, Pat Weissinger of Des Moines; and a brother-in-law, Ray (Lee) Wiley of Eugene, Ore.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his in-laws, Ray and Joy Wiley and Louise Wiley.

Jim was born Feb. 27, 1933, in Des Moines, to Emmett and Effie Brobst. He was a graduate of Iowa State University with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering (Microwave). He married Amy Wiley in the chapel at University Christian Church on March 20, 1955 in Des Moines. Jim was an electrical engineer for Rockwell-Collins for 47 years.

Jim was a charter member of Noelridge Christian Church. He enjoyed playing fast pitch softball in the church league for many years. He was a pitcher and a first base man. He was a deacon, elder, Sunday school teacher, mentor, vice chairman and moderator at the church as well.

Through life's trials he was the rock for his family. One of the most memorable vacations was spent at a lake in Minnesota with lots of fishing, boating, swimming and cabin living.

Jim considered himself blessed with the four children God gave him and yet his heart was big enough to consider several others as his own. He was delighted to be called “Dad” by the following “children,” Tina, Mark, Sarah, Emily, John, Virgil, Don, Barb and Tracy. Truly all of Jim's children felt so loved and so blessed by him. Jim was a great husband, father, grandfather and friend. He truly demonstrated the heart of God, his Heavenly Father.

Memorials may be directed to Noelridge Christian Church at 7111 C Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.

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