Charles "Chuck" Brashears
June 9, 1934 - February 19, 2025
With profound sorrow, I announce the passing of my beloved husband, Charles “Chuck” Rodger Brashears. He was 90 years old when he peacefully departed on February 19, 2025, at the Central Nebraska Veterans Home in Kearney with me, his loving wife, by his side.
Chuck was born in Knoxville Tennessee on June 9, 1934. He was the first child of four born to Robert & Inez (Lee) Brashears. Due to World War II, the family moved to Baltimore Maryland for his father to instruct women how to weld on battleships. Welding was a large part of Chuck’s life. After high school Chuck joined the Army. He was a paratrooper in the 11 th Airborne Division and was assigned to Germany. He was very proud of his service to our county.
Upon returning to the states, Chuck pursued a career in pipeline welding. While working in the pipeline business he studied the science of welding. His technical knowledge along with his practical experience of welding allowed him to work seemlessly among university professors, manufacturers of steel pipe, welding materials and equipment, and the hands-on welders.
One of the highlights of his career was being a welding engineer for construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Not only did he enjoy the challenges of constructing a large pipeline in a brutal environment with 1970’s technology, he found the love of his life. He met Patricia Ruf, a metallurgical engineer, who was working on the pipeline right-of-way north of the Brooks Range. In addition to being married 44 years, they worked side-by-side in the welding and metallurgy pipeline world. As many have said, they were joined at the hip! Friends have commented “Can you imagine the most non-typical conversations at dinner time?”
Chuck took great pride mentoring many young people in the world of welding. Chuck was also proud to be a 65-year member of the Pipeliners Union 798 United Association. He was a longtime member of several fraternal organizations, including Emmaus Lodge F.&A.M. of Pennsylvania, Scottish Rite Masonic Temple, Valley of Lehigh Consistory and Rajah Shriners.
Chuck is survived by his wife Patricia, son, Charles Brashears Jr (Marge), daughter, Elizabeth Brashears (Kevin Orsak), nine grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Survivors also include many Ruf, Lee and Brashears family members and lots of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Patricia Wells, son, James Brashears, sisters, June Taylor and Betty Mastrocola and brother, Coy Brashears.
A celebration of his life is scheduled for Thursday, April 24, 2025. Services will be 10:30 in the Chapel at Central Nebraska Veterans Home in Kearney. Interment will follow at the Kearney cemetery with Military honors provided by the American Legion Post #52, and VFW post #759, in conjunction with the Nebraska National Guard Funeral Honors Team. Chaplin Michael Koenig will be officiating. Business causal dress will be perfect.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the family for a memorial to be designated in the future, Shriners Hospital for Children or your favorite charity. Funeral arrangements are being coordinated by O’Brien, Stratmann Redinger.
“Remember me with smiles not tears for all the joy through all the years.” Margaret Mead
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Greg Kinney
The TAPS family has had so many losses recently. This man, Chuck Brashears, was really one of the greats. I have often thought of something that Mike McGehee - who we have also just lost - once said about Chuck: "He has kept us out of a lot of trouble." Not only did Chuck build and sustain the welding program as- no easy feat - but he built a solid team of welding engineers and specialists whose distinguished lineage continues at Alyeska with Toni Balowski at Alyeska and Eric Hoffman, who took on the role from Kurt Helm at Houston. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him, essentially as a client, one of many who he provided welding procedures and qualifications. And I need to shout out also to Pat, with whom Toni is still in contact, who was also an engineering supervisor here, and who always made sure to both take care of her people and get the best from them.
Phil (Cowboy) Sykes
So very sorry to hear about Chuck, he was one of my favorites and it was an enjoyment to work with and for him. RIP Chuck, your one and only Cowboy
Larry Blachut
I knew Chuck and Pat from the Houston area and really enjoyed working with both of them. I still remember walking into Chuck's office on Bragaw and seeing him sitting by the window smoking. Of course this was when there was no smoking in the building so I asked him why he was hanging out by the window. He pulled away and I could see a small hole in the window. I asked him what that was and he said it was a bullet hole but it also made a way for him to get rid of the smoke.
I always admired his welding knowledge and he was always open to suggestions even though he was normally always correct in his approaches.
Chuck will be missed.