Robert “Bob” Thomas Bronder

  January 23, 1923    –  February 16, 2023

Robert Thomas Bronder

Robert “Bob” Thomas Bronder, of Omaha, Nebraska, passed away on February 16, 2023, in Redmond, WA. He was born on January 23, 1923 to Thomas Albert II and Mildred Jean (Farrell) Bronder.

Robert lived through the hardships of the Great Depression and the early death of his father. His family spent four summers in his youth in Greely Colorado while his mother received her degree in teaching. Robert fondly recalled camping, hiking and fishing in the Rockies.

He served in World War II as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany and France in various Artillery Battalions, where he oversaw radio and radar capabilities. He often spoke of the joy of witnessing the Sacrè-Coeur turn its lights back on after the Liberation of Paris, and the celebration in the streets thereafter.

Robert graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nebraska in 1950 and certified as a Professional Engineer in 1971. Bob, as he was known at work, led a long and successful career at Boeing with an expertise in avionic systems design, analysis and testing and system susceptibility to nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP). A charitable project Robert initiated in collaboration with Dr. Belding Scribner created a mobile dialysis kit for pediatric home dialysis. He was awarded Engineer of the Year, received an award by the Governor of Washington in 1979 and a Regional Professional Leadership Award in 1987.

Robert married his late wife, Leone Nicklaus, on December 23, 1954, and two children blessed their home. Robert was an intelligent and kind man with a love of ham radio, using his call sign WA7BJC and later KB7NA to make friends around the world.

Robert had a quiet retirement and spent his time admiring the beautiful view from his house on Cougar Mountain and seeing if “the mountain was out.” He stayed involved with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), allowing his family members to create many wonderful memories with him on his conferences to destinations such as Arizona, Florida, Washington D.C., Hawaii and Toronto.  He also had a special spot in his heart for the Aloha spirit, which he shared with his late brother David Bronder. He kept a close relationship with his son and daughter and their spouses, three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Throughout his life he was known as a hard-working family provider, who kept a sharp memory through his 100th birthday and could enthrall with tales of his childhood. There was never a shortage of root-beer in the basement and a bucket of KFC for visitors.

The family is grateful for the care he received from the staff at Fairwinds. A celebration of his 100^th birthday milestone was attended by family in person and virtually across the county, complete with a family sing-along of old favorites. Robert will be interred at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA with military honors. Please say a prayer for the repose of his soul. As Robert ended his ham radio conversations, Baker John Charlie signing off, 88 SK, KF (hugs and kisses, transmission over).