Julius Albert Brosa

Julius Albert Brosa, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on July 24, 2023, in Overland Park, Kansas, at the young age of 93. Julius wore many hats. He was a veteran, civil servant, a computer systems designer and project management specialist, and cattle farm owner and operator.

Julius met his wife, Carol Joanne Brosa, nee Cook, a native of Baldwin, Kansas and graduate of Baker University, in 1957 at a Washburn Wesley Fellowship meeting in Topeka, Kansas. Their romance blossomed over milkshakes at Bobo's Drive-In, and they were married on July 6, 1958. Julius and Carol spent the first few years of their marriage in New Mexico and Washington, DC (Falls Church, VA area) before returning to Kansas where they would spend the rest of their lives together.

A proud Kansas State University alumnus, Julius graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Administration in 1952 and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics in 1956. In between his degrees, from 1952 to 1954, Julius served as a Sargent in the 8052nd Army Unit attached to the 1st Marine Division stationed near the 38th parallel during the Korean War. Julius provided support to refugee camps in the 1stDivision's area and was responsible for escorting civilian delegations through the military zone to greet wounded prisoners during the 1953 prisoner exchange, also known as Operation Big Switch.

After the army, Julius worked with the Marine Corps Automated Services Center in Overland Park, Kansas as well as the United States Department of Agriculture, where he was an agricultural statistician in the Statistical Reporting Service in Washington, DC, Kansas, and New Mexico. Julius would fondly recount his time in New Mexico as "being stuck in the mud with dirt blowing in your face . . . I loved it."

Julius also worked with the United States Coast Guard in Topeka, Kansas as an operator systems manager, chief programmer, and "everything else [needed] for a new computer running dozens of word processing terminals" in the early 1980s. While there, Julius played an integral role in connecting the Coast Guard's Antarctic ice breaker, Polar Star, to Coast Guard personnel in the more reasonable temperatures of mainland United States.

Julius retired from the Federal Service in 1984, whereupon he spent the next thirty or so years operating the family's shorthorn cattle farm in Valley Falls, Kansas. Active in the local community, Julius began an investment club with his wife, Carol; served as President of the Topeka Chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees; and was an active member of VFW Post 3084 in Valley Falls, Kansas. Julius was also a member of Topeka First United Methodist Church in Topeka, Kansas.

A man who always defied the odds, Julius survived colon cancer and a stroke. His hobbies included tai chi, studying theology, and resuscitating his children's and grandchildren's poorly treated plants. He also enjoyed travel.

Julius was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred Gertrude Barnes Brosa and Edward Joseph Brosa. He is survived by his wife, Carol Brosa, with whom he recently celebrated 65 years of marriage; his daughters, Cindy (Ed) Irvine and Melinda (Alan) Rittgers; and his five grandchildren, David (Emily) Rittgers, Edward Irvine, Kaitlin Rittgers, George Irvine, and Austin Irvine.

A visitation and memorial service will be held at 9:30 am on Saturday, August 5 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church located at 15315 W 151st St, Olathe, KS 66062. Graveside services will take place at 12:30 pm at Mount Hope Cemetery, 4700 SW 17th St. Topeka, KS 66604. The family asks that memorial donations be sent to VFW Post 3084, 15716 K-4 HWY, Valley Falls, KS 66088.

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