Robert Gilbert 'Bob' Brockmann's Obituary
Robert Gilbert “Bob” Brockmann, 87, passed away on Friday, September 9, 2016, in Fayetteville. Before moving to Fayetteville in September of 2015, he was a long-time resident of Little Rock and Maumelle. Bob was born October 5, 1928, in Cincinnati Ohio, the son of Gilbert and Bernice Harrison Brockmann. He graduated from Hughes High School in Cincinnati. After a year at Arkansas State University, he transferred to the University of Arkansas. He received a B.S. in Business Administration in 1950, and was a Sigma Nu. He received his law degree in 1963, where he was a member of the Law Review and graduated first in his class. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years Kathryn Ann “Katsy” McKennon Brockmann and a son, Mark McKennon Brockmann. He is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Jane and David Gearhart of Fayetteville and Beth and Larry Wilkins of Springdale; five grandchildren: Katy Gearhart Hunt and her husband Justin, Brock Gearhart and his wife Lindsey, Bo Wilkins and his wife Jennifer, Drew Wilkins and Carlie Wilkins Tapley and her husband Jason; six great-grandchildren: Ben Hunt, Ellie Hunt, Caroline Gearhart, Lily Gearhart, Tate Tapley and Tripp Tapley and extended family to whom he was very close. After graduation from the U of A, Bob and Katsy returned to Cincinnati where he joined Brockmann and Son, Inc., a brick contractor. Upon the retirement of his father, Bob moved to Tuckerman, Arkansas where he worked in the family retail and farming interests. Deciding to obtain a law degree, he and his family moved to Fayetteville in 1960. Upon graduation from law school in 1963, Bob joined Gene Moore’s practice in Harrison, later known as Moore and Brockmann. In 1968, he became a member of the faculty at the U of A School of Law. He also served as chief attorney for the Arkansas Department of Revenue and retired as a Federal Administrative Law Judge hearing Social Security matters. Bob and Katsy loved to travel and visited many places in the United States and around the world. One of his favorites was Gulf Shores, Alabama, where he and Katsy hosted the entire family for an annual week on the beach, a tradition that continued for 35 years. Bob had a dry wit and keen intelligence. He loved cars, especially Lincoln Continentals, and the Cincinnati Reds. Collecting was a passion and he had impressive collections of coins, antique steins and pocket watches. He will be missed by many but especially by his family. He was devoted to each member and generous beyond measure. He loved Katsy above all, asking her to go “steady” in a telegram he sent to Holcombe Hall at the U of A in 1949. Special appreciation goes to caregiver Angie Sandbothe for her kindness and compassion.A memorial service will be held at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville on Friday, September 16, at 11 am. Memorials may be made to the McKennon-Brockmann Endowed Scholarship in Nursing at the University of Arkansas, Gift Services, UNHS 300, 1 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701.
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