Robert Leon Brutke

Captain Robert “Lonnie” Brutke, Sr., USMC Veteran, was born 2 January 1940 and passed away unexpectedly on 13 June 2012 at the age of 72 years old of natural causes. Lonnie was born in Amity, Oregon, to Robert A. Brutke and Naomi A. (Casteel) Brutke. He moved to Hazelton, Idaho, in 1949 and graduated from Valley High School in 1958. Lonnie enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after graduation and married his high school sweetheart, Louise Bowlin, on 31 July 1959. After selection to an officer selection program (Bootstrap), the couple moved to Salt Lake City to attend the University of Utah, where he earned a degree in Geology and was commissioned to Second Lieutenant. Lonnie served in multiple locations across the United States throughout his thirteen-year career, most notably earning his naval aviator wings while stationed in Kingsville, Texas, in 1963. Capt. Lonnie Brutke, Sr. served one year in the Republic of Vietnam during 1966-1967, where he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross piloting the F-4 Phantom and eighteen air medals. OORAH! In 1971 Lonnie was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, and he and his family returned to Idaho to operate Brutke Construction with his father in Hazelton. Lonnie and Louise had five children, four daughters and finally a son. The family owned Brutke Construction until 1998, when they purchased Snake River Metal, which is currently owned and operated out of Filer, Idaho. He is survived by his wife of 52 years (Louise), daughters Teena (Kenny) Sirucek, Tessie (Russell) Pharris, Lonette (Scott) Brown, Lori Brutke, and son Lonnie (Kim) Brutke, eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A public viewing will be held at Rosenau Funeral Home in Twin Falls Monday, 18 June from 6pm-8pm. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, 19 June from 6pm-8pm at Rosenau Funeral Home located at 2826 Addison Avenue East in Twin Falls. A military burial will be held at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise on Wednesday, 20 June at 11am at 10100 Horseshoe Bend Rd. SEMPER FI!