Bob Bratcher

May 18, 1945 - January 30, 2021

Robert “Bob” John Bratcher, 75, of Lake Brownwood, passed away Saturday, January 30, 2021. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, February 5, 2021 at the Grace Lutheran Church, 1401 1st St, Brownwood, TX 76801. Bob was born May 18, 1945 at North Island Naval Air Station, San Diego, California to Ernest and Mally Bratcher.  Bob graduated high school at Santa Ana Valley high school in California.  He devoted his life to being a fireman in 1970 when he joined the State of California, Department of conservation Division of Forestry.  He served as Fire Captain of the Orange County Ranger Unit, became a Mobile Intensive Care paramedic in 1978 and became a Captain of the Orange County California Firefighter Authority in 2004.  After spending many years together as Fire Captains for Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), Bob Bratcher and Dave Hubert continued their friendship after retirement. Big Bob volunteered to join the CSFA Steamer Team and participate in many wonderful public events in the interest of public safety and fire prevention education. Bob was a devoted member of the CSFA Steamer Team.  Bob’s wonderful strength, tallness, and willingness to help, made him an invaluable Steamer Team asset… Especially guarding the mighty draft horse teams required to pull the heavy steam fire engine at many of the public events.  During “THE STEAMER-An American Icon” documentary video, Bob shared how proud he was to be a vital part of the outreach program. He loved being up front along the parade routes leading those powerful draft horses, while also closely monitoring the huge crowds to ensure safety.  Bob reconnected with Deanna after knowing each other in school and living in the same area for many years.  They were married and moved to Lake Brownwood to enjoy each other’s company and relax on the lake for retirement.  Bob and Deanna cherished their time alone together.  They were a perfect fit.  One of Bobs greatest joys was to travel back to California with the hopes of seeing his grandchildren Dana, Noah and Nolan. Then onto New Mexico to see his grandsons, Alex and Ethan and spend time with his beautiful granddaughters Brooke-E and Keira.  Bob loved spending hours searching and researching Ancestry for his family and thoroughly enjoyed the ministry and church family at the Grace Lutheran Church in Brownwood. Bob is survived by his beloved wife, Deanna Marie of Lake Brownwood; sons, Gregg of Santa Ana, CA, Alan Bratcher and wife, Deanna of Long Beach, California, Brian Bratcher and wife, Jennifer of Rio Rancho, New Mexico; brothers, Jan Bratcher and wife, Tina of Chico, California and Mike Sylvester and wife Barbara of Wenatchee, Washington; sisters, Helen Heitzenrader of Kent, Washington and Kathy Dubose of Somerset, Ky; 8 grandchildren; as well as many colleagues in the fire department, church family and many friends. Bob was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Dana Bratcher; his parents, Ernest A. Bratcher & Mally E. Bratcher; and grandfather, James R. Bratcher and grandmother, Fanny J. Stockton. Online condolences, tributes and memorials can be shared with family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net