Robert Attwood Brannan, 87, of North Platte, NE, passed away at a hospital in Albuquerque, NM on Wednesday, May 20, 2015.
Robert was born at the Brannan family home at 1415 West Sixth in North Platte on October 28, 1927, to Virgil and Garnette (Haskins) Brannan. He grew up in North Platte and graduated from North Platte High School with the Class of 1945.
Robert married Helen Lawyer, daughter of Claude and Effie (Gilmore) Lawyer of North Platte, at the First Methodist Episcopal Church on April 18, 1948.
Robert joined the Nebraska State Guards in 1945, serving as Corporal and Clerk of Company “A.” He then joined the U.S. Navy in 1946 and was stationed at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D.C. Following the conclusion of World War II, he joined the Naval Reserves and was called back into the Navy in 1952 and served on the USS Bradford DD-545 as a Yeoman for the engineering officer until his discharge in 1954. The USS Bradford was the first U.S. naval ship fired on by Russian MIGS during the Korean War.
In honor of his naval service, Robert subsequently received the China Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal. Robert was honored to have served in the United States Armed Services during World War II and the Korean War, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfathers, Henry Smith of Schuyler, NE, and Henry Miller of Curtis, NE, who served in the United States Grand Army of the Republic during the American Civil War, and his ancestor Peter Chesley of New York, who served in the American Revolution.
Robert joined Platte Valley Public Power and Irrigation District as a surveyor in 1947. Bob then hired out as a Brakemen with the Union Pacific Railroad in 1950 and retired as a Conductor in 1990.
Robert was a member of First United Methodist Church in North Platte for over 65 years. He was a member of Platte Valley Lodge #32, AF&AM, for over 65 years and was a member of the York Rite Bodies. Bob was also a member of Signet Chapter #55, Order of Eastern Star, for over 50 years, and served as Worthy Patron in 1965, 1988, and 2006. He served as Associate Guardian of Job’s Daughters, Bethel #4. Robert was a member of P.R. Halligan Post #163 American Legion, and served as secretary for the Elks Lodge #985 in North Platte for two years.
Robert is survived by Helen, his wife of 67 years, of North Platte; his daughter, Debra (Carl) Mullendore, of Bernalillo, NM; his sister, Beverly (Warren) Wilson, of Kansas City, MO, and two nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Garnette (Haskins) Brannan.
Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church, the Masonic-Eastern Star Home for Children in Fremont, the Nebraska Masonic Home in Plattsmouth, the Salvation Army, the Goodfellows Shoe Fund, the North Platte Food Pantry, or the donor’s choice.
Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, May 29, 2015, at First United Methodist Church in North Platte with Pastor Kola Akinnigbagbe officiating. Inurnment with military honors and Masonic Rites will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore which is in charge of arrangements.