Donald J. Brubacher was born August 9, 1927 near Moundridge to August ad Clara Hirschler Brubacher. As the 5th of 7 children, he grew up on a farm near Moundridge. He attended Moundridge elementary school. The family attended church at West Zion Mennonite, where he was baptized at the age of 13. After three years at Moundridge High School, his family moved to a farm near Walton and he graduated from Walton High School in 1945. He attended Bethel College for one year.
On February 13, 1949 he married Margaret Marie Wedel at Eden Mennonite Church at Moundridge. They resided on a farm 2 1/2 miles west of Walton until a near fatal farm incident forced him to revaluate his reason for farming. He had worked for years at Graber Hardware in Newton as a electrician and plumber. In 1968 the farm was sold to his nephew, an auction was held, and the family moved to Hesston, where he pursued a career as an electrician full-time. After moving to Hesston, the family joined the Hesston Mennonite Church.
After retirement, his hobbies included selling cars, woodworking, reading and playing the banjo. He and his wife, Margaret, moved to Lake Vista at Schowalter Villa in the fall of 2006.
Survivors: wife of Hesston; daughter, Cindi (Lowell) of Hesston; two sons, Don (Janette), Hillsdale, Michigan and Dale (Deb) of Hesston; 7 grandchidren; 9 great-grandchildren. Surviving siblings are Naomi Krehbiel and Kathryn Stucky, both of Newton; Jack Brubacher of Winifield and Yvonne (Allen) of McPherson.
Services will be February 5, 12014 at Hesston Mennonite Church.
