John Robert Brouse

Bob Brouse passed away peacefully on September 30, 2020, surrounded by his adoring wife and three of his five children at his home overlooking Grace Lake.

Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji with Deacon Robb Naylor officiating.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Bemidji with military honors provided by Ralph Gracie, American Legion Post #14.

Born on April 8, 1931 in Grand Forks, ND to Verner and Lillian Brouse who preceded him in death.

Bob had a great love for his country and was a Veteran of the U.S. Army Airborne and stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Greenwood in 1952 and enjoyed a wonderful 68-year marriage. Bob and Pat welcomed their first child, Deborah Anne during this time

From 1954-1957, Bob attended the University of North Dakota (UND) on the GI Bill and graduated with a Journalism degree. Later (in1960) he officially graduated alongside of his brother, William D Brouse who had been in the Air Force. During this time, he lived on the UND campus in a Quonset hut with his wife, daughter and son Jon Robert who was born in 1955.

In 1960, his second daughter was born, Becky Joan in Minneapolis, MN where Bob practiced Government and Public Relations at the Red Feather and then started, he career of Association Management with the local chapter of the Propriety Association (PA) representing manufacturers of over the counter medicines.

Bob moved his family to the Washington, DC suburb of Bethesda, MD in 1961 to continue his career as an association management executive with the Propriety Association. His son William Jefferson (Jeff) was born in 1962 at Georgetown Hospital. 

Bob subsequently took a Job as Executive Vice President for the Animal Health Institute that represented the manufacturers of animal drugs. In 1964, Bob’s last child was born, Nancy Elizabeth also at Georgetown Hospital.

Over the span of his career, Bob headed up as President of the Direct Selling Association (DSA) where he wrote the code of ethics and was inducted into the DSA’s Hall of Fame – an award he was very proud. Later he moved his family to the San Francisco area to accept a position with Shaklee Corporation as Vice President of Public Affairs.

He later returned to Washington DC to campaign for California’s Governor, Ronald Reagan for President and started JRB/Associates, a business management and marketing company with his wife and partner, Patricia. JRB/A represented World Book and worked with Barbara Bush to successfully get World Book in all the Congressional offices – just one of this projects that he was proud of. He also represented Amway Corporation, Avon Products, Shaklee International, created and managed the International Teleconference Association, all managed by son, Jeff, and assisted by daughter Becky.

Bob ended his career with the Non-Prescription Drug Manufacturers Association (later became the Consumer Health Care Products Association - CHPA) to represent them as Vice President Government Relations. He retired in 2001 – a career that started with the Non-Prescription Drug Manufacturers Association and ended with the same.

In 2012 Bob and Patricia moved to their beloved Grace Lake Cottage that his architect son designed. Dad loved Grace Lake and was dedicated to keep the Lake clean. Grace lake is one of the few Star Lakes in Minnesota. In 2020, he was awarded Keith Mooney Award from the Grace Lake Watershed Improvement Association.

In his retirement, Bob loved to fish, play golf, go with ‘the guys’ to the Big Tap, and his greatest pleasure was spending time with his beautiful wife, Patricia. They marked Fridays, as date day, and could often be seen or not seen dancing to their song, ‘Embraceable You’. They had lots of great conversations about the world, their family, their community and politics.

John Robert (Bob) Brouse is survived by his wife, Patricia of 68 years, his 5 children, Deborah Brown of Ashburn, VA, Jon (wife Stephanie) Brouse of Studio City, CA, Becky Brouse of Bemidji, MN, William Jefferson (Jeff) (wife Kathleen) Brouse of Sterling, VA, and Nancy (husband Jerry) Yahner of Purcellville, VA. Also surviving 11 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor can be made to the Grace Lake Watershed Improvement Association.

 Guestbook at www.OlsonSchwartzFuneralHome.com

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