On April 8, 2019 Robert (Bob) Stewart Brownell passed away at the age of 68, surrounded by family and friends.
Bob was born on October 5th, 1950 in Sheridan Wyoming, to Lenard and Catherine Brownell. Bob was born on the same day in October as his father.
Bob attended Sheridan schools through 10th grade. In 1965 the family moved to Newport, New Hampshire where Bob finished high school. Bob attended college for one year before deciding that college wasn’t for him. Bob’s report cards from school suggest that he had other things on his mind then academics. During high school Bob ran track, played basketball and football, which he thoroughly enjoyed. While in New Hampshire Bob took up skiing, another sport that he enjoyed, and passed on to his children. Bob joined the Mount Sunapee ski patrol where he met Linda J Ritchie. Linda and Bob were married February 24th, 1973 and moved to Sheridan later that spring.
Bob started working for Vern and Oriel States on the Young’s Creek ranch. During that same time, Bob began working for Decker Coal. When not working at Decker Coal, Bob would work on the ranch for the States’.
On May 31st, 1975, Bob and Linda welcomed into their lives their daughter, Heather. Two years later on October 4th, 1977, they had a son, Brian. Brian was one day shy of being the third generation born on October 5th.
In 1982 Bob and Linda moved to Wyarno. During the 80’s Bob was a judge for the Sheridan chariot racing chapter. He was invited numerous times to judge the state chariot racing championships. He was a member of the Sheridan County Rodeo board for many years, as well as an adviser to the Sheridan High School Rodeo team.
In 1992 Bob and Linda separated. Bob began working for Sheridan Ranches after working for Decker Coal for nearly twenty years. Following Sheridan ranches he started working at Madsen Construction, another job that he took great pride in. After leaving Madsen Construction Bob started working in the methane fields as a roustabout, pumper, truck driver, and mechanic. After the boom of the methane, Bob took on many different jobs, from night calving, mechanic, a hunting guide, truck driver, and day riding for local ranches.
In 2012 Bob met Linda Rice and on November 22, 2014 they were married. Linda and Bob enjoyed many things together especially traveling. Thanks to Linda’s “let’s do it” attitude, Bob and Linda traveled to many places that Bob had always wanted to see. This past fall, they fulfilled Bob’s childhood dream of seeing the Grand Canyon. Through all of Bob’s health issues, Linda never left his side or stopped caring for and loving him.
Bob always took great happiness and pride in his grandsons Garrett Cunningham and Britton Brownell. They were his whole world. His greatest joys were watching them rodeo and all their success made him proud beyond words. His eyes would light up at any mention of their names. He never missed any opportunity to brag on them both.
Bob always loved the sport of rodeo. As a young man he competed in most of the events. He highly enjoyed competing in the pack horse race at the Sheridan County Rodeo, an event he won virtually every time he entered it. Bob and Roy Olsen won it so many times that eventually they agreed to break up the duo and get other partners “to make it fair”.
Bob had many hobbies such as hunting, fishing, trapping, rodeo, leather work, skiing, knife making, and being very ornery!
Bob was preceded in death by his father Lenard and his mother Catherine. He is survived by his wife Linda, his two children Heather (TJ) Cunningham of Broadus, MT and Brian (Sarah) Brownell of Banner, WY, and his two grandsons Garrett Cunningham and Britton Brownell.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sheridan Cowgirls Rodeo Association, 553 Dow Prong Rd., Banner, WY 82832, American Cancer Society, 333 S. Beach, Casper, WY 82601 or the American Heart Association, 710 2nd Ave., Ste 900, Seattle, WA 98104.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at Kane Funeral Home with a reception to follow.
Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com.
Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.