Russell  Brockway

Russell P. Brockway

1935 - 2018

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Obituary of Russell P. Brockway

Russell Brockway, our dear friend and neighbor, died on October 27, 2018 at the Tru Hospice Care Center in Longmont. Salina is just not the same without Russell’s smile, wave and love of life.

Russell was born in Ridgewood, NJ on October 7, 1935 to Harry Maurice and Dorothy E. (Johnson) Brockway. After his father died when he was six, he went to live with his grandparents Carl P. and Grace Brockway.

He graduated from The Pennington School in 1955, and then attended Indiana State University for one year before enlisting in the Air Force where he was a Weapons Fusing Systems Specialist–Electronic (radar).

After serving four years, Russell received an Honorable Discharge. Later, he worked at Beech Aircraft Corp. (receiving a certificate of appreciation from NASA during a space contract), Western Electric Company, Ball Aerospace in the electronics systems division and at local temp agencies.

In 1960, he moved to Salina, Colo. an old mining camp between Boulder and Gold Hill. The “Miner’s Rest,” a small historic cabin built from railroad timbers with an outhouse, became Russell’s home in 1962 and was where he lived until his death.

Russell loved his neighbors, the pies at the Pie and Eye, and the services at The Little Church in the Pines. For 30-years, Sunday mornings in Salina began with the sound of church bells and hymns being broadcast from speakers that Russell had hung in the trees. He lived to share his love of God, music, and electronics.

In the 1970s-90s, when TV reception was difficult in the mountains, Russell installed a large satellite dish and strung wire to most of the homes in Salina; which we called “Russell-Vision.” He was co-publisher of The Salina Nugget, a free community newsletter.  In 2000, he bought a keyboard and recorded MIDI music of hymns which he shared at church services.  Russell also loved trains, road trips, car camping, visiting museums, wearing a kilt at the Scottish-Irish Festival, photography, tending his garden, and sharing his life and love with his neighbors (human, canine, feline, and wildlife). All of us will miss him.

Russell is survived by a half-brother, Douglas V. Shuit of Wisconsin.

A celebration of his life will be held at The Little Church in the Pines, 414 Gold Run Rd., Boulder, CO 80302, with Rev. Dr. Kay Cook officiating, on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.  

Military honors will be provided by the United States Air Force.

Burial; Ft Logan National Cemetery

A reception will follow the service at the church.

Contributions: Little Church in the Pines.

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Saturday
1
December

Celebration of Life

11:00 am
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Little Church in the Pines
Gold Run Rd
Boulder , Colorado, United States

Contributions

Little Church in the Pines 414 Gold Run Rd., Boulder, CO 80302