Robert Willis (“Bill”) Brittain, passed away peacefully but unexpectedly on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.  Bill was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather.  His kindness, patience, and generosity of spirit were an inspiration to all who knew him.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30am on Monday, October 14, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dubuque, Iowa.  Visitation will precede the service from 9:00-10:30am in the Westminster sanctuary. Burial will follow at Rock Island Memorial Park Cemetery in Rock Island, Illinois. The funeral service will be livestreamed at www.egelhofsiegertcasper.com, and the link can be found under Bill’s obituary on that website.

Bill was born on February 15, 1931, in Brevard, North Carolina, the son of Willis and Velma (Deyton) Brittain. He married Joyce Ann Henneman on July 12, 1958, in Rock Island, Illinois. They were blessed with 64 happy and adventurous years of marriage, and Bill set an impossibly high bar for his devotion to and love for Joyce.  When Joyce became ill almost a decade ago, Bill did all he could to help care for Joyce at Bethany Home. He considered the Bethany Home staff members his dear friends and partners. After Joyce preceded him in death on August 9, 2022, Bill missed Joyce terribly, but he continued to embrace life and enjoyed building new friendships at Bethany.

Bill graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in agricultural engineering and then earned his M.S. in agricultural engineering from Michigan State University.  Bill served his country through the Army ROTC during his time at NC State, with the Army’s Signal Corp in West Germany from 1954-1956, and in the Army Reserve after his return from Germany. Bill was employed as an engineer at John Deere for 35 years, retiring in 1992.  Following his retirement from John Deere, Bill taught for several years at Northeast Iowa Community College.

Bill was also a licensed private, instrument, and commercial pilot, and he was an active member and former president of the Key City Fliers club in Dubuque.  He flew his family, friends, and colleagues on many adventures until he retired from flying at age 75.  Flying brought Bill much joy, and he frequently shared flying stories as well as his pleasure that Key City Fliers is still an active organization with his family and friends.

Bill was also an active member of the community.  He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he was an Elder. He also served on the Board of Directors at Mount Pleasant Home, and he was a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Bill is survived by his children, Carolyn (Mark) Brodie, of Indianola, Iowa, Jean (Scott Reeder) Brittain, of Middleton, WI; his grandchildren, John “Jack” Reeder, and Ellen Brodie; his sisters, Ann McCormick, of Lillington, North Carolina, and Betsy Mann, of Blairgowrie, Scotland; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Shirley Myers, William Myers, Richard Henneman, Alice Henneman, John Henneman, Patricia Henneman, John Mann, and Edward McCormick; and his niece Suzann Sheley.

Memorials may be made to Bethany Home Retirement Center or Westminster Presbyterian Church, both in Dubuque.

Bill had a gentle and kind soul.  He was honest, patient, and generous.  He was an absolute gentleman in every way, and he always had a smile on his face.  He was always happy to help and support the people around him or to simply just listen.  Spending time with him was easy and uncomplicated.  He was the foundation and rock of our family, and he will be dearly missed by all who knew him.