ROBERT LOUIS BROCKMILLER

Robert Louis Brockmiller was born on October 1, 1933, the third of four children to Kenneth and Louise Brockmiller, in Carlinville, Illinois. He lived a life defined by hard work, skill, intelligence, innovation, incredible self-motivation and an unwavering devotion to his family. He passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at the Florida home of his eldest daughter, Tarri, leaving behind a legacy that will endure for generations.
Bob graduated from Carlinville High School, but that doesn’t tell the story of Bob’s intellect and artistry. Only those closest to Bob fully understand the depth of his engineering skills and technical abilities, paired with a creative side passionate about beauty and colors.
Growing up in Carlinville, he became well known for his remarkable talent at the local pool hall. With a steady hand, sharp focus and competitive spirit, he mastered the game of pool and carried stories from those early days with him throughout his life. Many of his closest family members have honed their pool skills side-by-side with Bob on his table at his home. A devoted chess player, he was always thinking several moves ahead, studying the board and his opponent with the same patient strategy that guided so much of his life.
Bob married Anne Downs in 1955 producing five children during their marriage. On June 25, 1966, Bob married Annitta Johnson who brought two children of her own, beginning a partnership rooted in love and shared purpose. In 1979, Bob built the family home in LaGrange, Missouri, within those walls beat the heart of this blended family. It was filled with Sunday dinners around the table, plenty of pool games, Christmas Eve celebrations rich with tradition, birthday celebrations and lively New Year’s parties that brought everyone together. In the house that Bob built, they surrounded their children and grandchildren with warmth, guidance, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Construction was both his gift and his passion. He worked for many years with his stepfather and brother-in-law at Ramsey-Jones Mobile Homes, he was the leader of the setup crew along with helping to develop the road system and 70 lots within the park. The success of the park was matched only by the deep bonds formed between Bob’s family and that of his sister, Louise Jones. At 52, Bob, alongside his son, Jerry, started Brockmiller Construction, building not only houses but a bond forged through shared hard work and pride in craftsmanship. In the 1980s, his ingenuity led him to design and create his own device, which was patented— the “Quicky Lift” — developed to help move and transport mobile homes, a reflection of his innovative spirit and problem-solving nature. Blessed with a brilliant mathematical mind, he could draft architectural plans with precision and bring them to life with his own hands. Despite working with his hands for 50 hours each week, he devoted his free time to teaching himself computer programming, drafting, trigonometry, and calculus—knowledge he later applied to several inventions and a patent. Many of his friends were the men he worked with each day, all of whom admired and respected him for his unwavering devotion to accuracy, honesty and fairness. Simply put, Bob was a man of great character and integrity and all who were blessed to know him could sense it in some defining way.
Beyond construction, he was an artist. He painted countless pieces for family and friends, generously giving his creations to those he loved. His paintings hang today in the homes of his children and grandchildren — daily reminders of his creativity and thoughtfulness.
When Bob retired from Brockmiller Construction at the young age of 65, his then workmates pulled money together to gift him a set of golf clubs sparking a love affair that lasted deep into his 80s. He and four special friends would meet each weekday morning for some competitive golf until eventually he played alone, always honing his game and enjoying the challenge.
Inspired by his childhood, Bob hosted weekly pool tournaments at the Brockmiller house until very recently, and at age 90, he could still hold his own—and now and then, he reminded everyone of his dominant game. Above all, he was most proud of his family. He was a patient father and grandfather, teaching through example, listening with care, and offering wisdom with quiet strength. Whether teaching a pool shot, explaining a building plan, playing chess at the table, or sitting together watching football after Sunday dinner, he made those around him feel valued and deeply loved.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Annitta, his son, David Speer, and siblings Louise Jones and Kenneth “Sonny” Brockmiller. 
Bob is survived by his children, Tarri (Tom) Street, Debbie (Steve) Burnette, Barbie Helms, Jerry (Carol) Brockmiller, Brenda (Bob) Herndon, and Patti (Jimmy) Campbell. Bob’s greatest joy might have been all of the offspring from those children, which includes 22 grandchildren: Tiare, David, and Charles Street, Samantha Dean, and Nichole Lester, Jamie Rutherford, Johnny (Candice) Rutherford, Michael (Stephanie) Mertens, Jeremy (Amanda) Mertens, Randy (Deborah) Helms, Sean (Courtney) Helms, Robbie (Talia) Campbell, Jessica (Eddie) Kirkland, Kendra (Paul) Scifres, Erin Florea, Dustin (Kendra) Speer, Liam Terwelp, Parker (Alli) Brockmiller, Brady Brockmiller, Boen Brockmiller, Lilly Lewis, and Jack Lewis, as well as 37 great-grandchildren, and 16 great great-grandchildren. Also surviving is Bob’s sister, Dr. Barbara Williams of Texas.
His legacy lives on in the home he built, the projects he created, the paintings he gifted, and most importantly, in the family he cherished above all else.
Food is love so a celebration of Bob’s life will be held at the home of his son, Jerry “Brock”, and his wife, Carol Brockmiller, 6601 Columbus Road, Quincy, on Sunday, March 22 from 12-5 pm.