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Kenneth Wayne Brouse, 73

On Friday June the 2nd, 2017, Arizona Beverage Company stock prices fell sharply on the news of Dad’s passing. Senior executives called an emergency meeting to brace for the impact of the anticipated drop in sales of their Arnold Palmer Iced Tea. It had become his cherished go-to drink and he certainly drank a lot of it.

Dad was preceded in death by a cyst behind his left ear in 2005, part of a tendon in his right ring finger in 1985, and cataracts in 2012. He left behind a hell of a lot of stuff and we have no idea what to do with a lot of it. If there is something you are looking for, you should wait the appropriate amount of time and get in touch. Tomorrow would be fine.

Fashion was not a stranger and he took his style cues from no one. His signature blue bucket hat and colored one-pocket tees gave way to a more mature look in recent years. This look was all his: a plaid button down shirt, flannel in the cooler months, and a short sleeve cotton in the warmer ones; always a white undershirt designed by the fashion house Fruit of the Loom; suspenders to keep his pants up; and almost always boots of some sort paired with one of the many baseball hats in his extensive collection.

Born Aug. 12, 1943, to Howard and Dorthy Brouse, Dad lived in Worley, Idaho, all of his young life. He attended Worley High School where he graduated in 1961. After high school, he worked farming locally, then went to Central Washington to work in the fields until he was drafted in 1962. He joined the Navy in April of that year. He served from April 1962 to April 1966, achieving a rank of Machinery Repairman Second Class, serving on both the USS Vulcan and USS Hydes. He was a highly skilled machinist and repairman, receiving high marks and many praises in his military file.

While stationed in Norfolk, Va., he met his wife of 47 years, Dottie, and together they raised seven children here in Idaho; Marcial, Brian, Minio, Cello, Denny, Terry and Kenia. He worked for General Machinery in Spokane, Wash., as a journeyman machinist, as well as owning and running B&B Refuse Service. He later opened a machine shop/auto repair/parts store in Plummer, Idaho. After tiring of self employment he accepted an offer from the local saw mill as a maintenance supervisor. He continued in that line of work until he retired in 2008.

In his retirement years he enjoyed his naps (as he always had, they just became more frequent), watching Gonzaga men’s basketball, and frequenting local car shows in his 1940 Chevy Special Deluxe Coupe.

Everyone who remembers our dad is asked to celebrate him in their own way. Raising a glass of their favorite drink would be quite appropriate. He wants you to know that if he owes you a beer and if you can find him in Heaven, he will gladly allow you to buy him another. He can likely be found tinkering with cars or hanging out with one of the many pets that he had the pleasure of being a companion to over the years.

Cremation will take place at the family’s convenience and his ashes will be kept around as long as they match the décor. In lieu of flowers, we would hope that you will do an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for some poor unfortunate soul in his name. May you rest in peace. Forever in our hearts and on our mind. The man, the legend ... our dad.