Retired Colonel William Bill Edward Brubaker Jr.

His loyalty and duty to his family and country, as well as his ever present sense of humor and wit, will always be remembered.

During his career in the United States Army, he jumped with the 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles", parachute landing in France as part of the elite fighting force on D-Day, the 377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion , Assistant Operations Officer and in the Battle of the Bulge, Bastogne, France. After retiring from the military, he was an Assistant Professor of Physical Education at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri for 16 years.

Bill graduated from the University of Illinois with a Physical Education Degree. While serving in the Armed Forces he lived all over the world, including Turkey, Yugoslavia, Thailand as well as the US including Hawaii, Oklahoma and Illinois. He enjoyed numerous athletic activities and played racquet ball and golf well into his late 80’s.

Bill was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret, nee Dashner, Brubaker, they were married for 63 years; parents, William E. and Ruth, nee King, Brubaker, Sr.; and a brother, Don Brubaker.

Surviving are his wife of 8 years, Henrietta, nee Brusenbark, Brubaker of Belleville, Illinois; children, Ruth “Becky” (James) Schaaf of Huntsville, Alabama, Bill Brubaker III., of Nampa, Idaho and Anne Brubaker of Kirkwood, Missouri; 6 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, also survived by other relatives, family and friends.

Memorials in Bill's memory may be made to the St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center or to the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be expressed at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com

A memorial service will be held on Monday, August 12, 2013 at 9:30 am at the Apartment Community Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, Illinois.

Interment will be held privately in Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville, Illinois.

Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, Belleville, Illinois.