Brent Norman Soulis

Brent was born in Jamestown, North Dakota on June 1, 1942 to his parents, Christopher (CJ) and Mavis Soulis. Brent graduated from Jamestown High School and received a degree in engineering from North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. He was recruited by the State of California to the The Highway Transportation Agency in Eureka, California which was later renamed the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) where he ultimately became a senior civil engineer.

While working at the District 1 Headquarters in Eureka, he met and married Joyce McManus who was working as a key punch operator in the District 1 HQ building where they both worked. Brent adopted Joyce’s son Rourke and their family remained in Eureka for about ten years.

During this time in Eureka he served six years in the National Guard as an engineering platoon Sgt and during the Christmas Flood of 1964 that hit the area, flooding roads and rivers that wiped out communities, his engineering unit was activated. Eureka’s National Guard unit, along with other military, Civil Air Patrol and volunteer helicopter crews, became essential for rescues, food drops and supplying isolated towns. Among other duties he manned Fernbridge to keep looters at bay. His unit was activated long enough for him to gain his his veteran status. He served six full years in the Guard and will be buried with military honors in Court of Honor section of Mount Vernon Memorial Park.

Brent spent about ten years in Eureka when Caltrans had a round of layoffs and Brent found work in Idaho Falls, Idaho at EG&G Idaho which was a prominent defense contractor involved in nuclear research and development, known for its work in weapons testing and high-speed photography for the US government. It is now known as the Idaho National Laboratory. Brent worked alongside five other project managers on it’s massive 890 square mile facility.

Again after about ten years Brent had to find work after INL also laid off employees and he returned once again to California and CalTrans to work as a project manager at its State HQ building next to the State Capitol in Sacramento until his retirement. During his move back to California he and Joyce separated their marriage but remained good friends and visited and talked often until his passing.

Shortly after his return to California Brent bought a home in Citrus Heights and met his girlfriend Karen (Kim) Pruett while attending dancing classes and they enjoyed their time dancing, vacationing, dining out and day trips near their separate homes. Brent and his brother have spent time in Hawaii, Florida and cruised the Bahamas. Brent had a condo in Tahoe where he invited his family and friends during the winter for snow ski vacations where many a fall made for conversations around dinner and drinks by the fireplace.

Brent was an avid golfer and bowler in the tradition of his father CJ and attended many SIRs (Sons in Retirement) golf games and kept his top golfer of the year trophy for many years running. He was a golfing USGA scorekeeper and kept the records for his SIR’s group until he was no longer able to do so. Brent also bowled, he learned how from his dad & grandfather who owned a bowling business. Brent’s family teased him about his “over the top” bowling ball collection as he had a ball for every lane condition.

The family wishes a special thanks to Brent’s long time friends and neighbors, Ruben and Suzanne Cantu, who were always good company to each other and were highly regarded by he and his family.

Brent was preceded in death by his parents CJ and Mavis Soulis, his uncles Nick, Mike, and Jake, his aunt Jean Harr all of Jamestown, North Dakota and aunt Phyllis Kortie of Salinas, California, Rourke’s ex-wife Sherry Soulis of Idaho Falls, Idaho. He is survived by his brother Monty Soulis and his wife Anita of Eureka, California, his son Rourke Soulis and Anita D. Soulis of Weott, California, Rourke’s son’s Shane Soulis, Grant Soulis both of Sun Valley Idaho, Darryl Soulis of Boise Idaho and his daughter Megan Soulis of Idaho Falls, Idaho.

The family would like to thank the team at UC Davis in Sacramento for their professional and caring work including his oncology doctor Dr. Surbhi Singhal and his hospice nurse Melanie Guess and her team who made Brent’s passing the most comfortable possible with the ability to stay in his own home where his family and friends were able to care for and visit him.

Burial will be at Mount Vernon Memorial Park, Court of Honor South, 8201 Greenback Ln, Fair Oaks, CA 95628 Row 9, space 12.

Following the burial, please join us for a luncheon in the Mount Vernon main building on the 2nd floor. Food and refreshments will be provided as we share memories and honor Brent together.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to UC Davis Hospice Program in honor of Brent Soulis.