Donald M. Brubaker

Donald M. Brubaker, 95, passed away on January 10, 2016 at Parkview Home in Freeport, IL. He was the son of Harlen Willis and Elta Mitchell Brubaker. He was born February 15, 1920 in the same farm house in which his mother was born. He went to Winneshiek Grade School and Dakota High School, graduating in 1937. He helped his father on the farm and Harry Schrader trucking part-time. In 1941 he entered Brown's College of Commerce in Freeport. He took a civil service test in the fall and was assigned to a position with the Veterans Administration in Washington D.C. February 1, 1942. In June of 1942, he was transferred to New York City to open a new office and continued to work there for three years. He had became interested in photography and studied at The New York institute of Photography, which resulted in his life's work of being a photographer. After coming home he worked at various jobs and took lots of pictures. He was asked to take a wedding in September of 1946 and that started him on his 60 years of wedding photography. He married Phyllis Jean Sheetz on June 18, 1950. After working several jobs they purchased Freeport Floral to combine it with the wedding photography business. After five years they closed the shop and moved the business to their home where they continued specializing in weddings for 29 years. His wife Phyllis passed away on August 10, 1995. On May 3, 1998 he married Mildred Seefeldt and they enjoyed their life at Parkview Home in Freeport until her death on May 5, 2011. May years has passed since the school days at Brown's, but Don has always kept in touch with his friend, Lois Nycum from Lanark, IL. Lois's husband, Fred, had died shortly after Millie's death and Don and Lois renewed their friendship. On December 16, 2012, Don and Lois were married. They spent two years in Lanark and moved to Parkview Home in November of 2014 to spend their remaining years. He enjoyed traveling and making friends and almost everywhere he went someone looked him up to discuss and thank him for the memories of special events he had captured on film. He is survived by his wife Lois; his niece Carol Ferry and her son Carl and family. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Gladys Falk; two wives; and all first cousins. He enjoyed going to church and was a member of Park Hills Evangelical Free Church for over forty years. Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Thursday January 14, 2016 at Park Hills Evangelical Free Church with Rev. Mark Balmer and Rev. Tom McClellan officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M. until the time of service at the church. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. A memorial has been established for Park Hills Evangelical Free Church. Please visit www.burketubbs.com to sign his online guestbook and to share memories.