Obituaries : Brian J. Robinson, Sr.

Brian J. Robinson, Sr.

GARRISON - Brian J. Robinson, Sr., 58, died Sunday, May 8, 2016, at his residence following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, May 12, 2016, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton with AMVETS Chaplain Lonnie McDonald officiating. Visitation will be an hour before services at the funeral home. Military rites will be performed by George G. Luckey American Legion Post 57 and U.S. Navy Funeral Honors. Inurnment in the family cemetery in Ohio will be held at a later date.

Brian John Robinson was born January 19, 1958, in Manassas, Virginia, the son of George and Mary Graninger Robinson. Brian graduated from Colonial Beach High School and earned a BS degree from George Washington University. Brian served his country valiantly in the United States Navy. He was stationed in the Middle East and was awarded a Purple Heart.

On December 1, 1990, Brian was united in marriage with Susan Heitzman in Vandalia, Ohio. The couple moved to Iowa, and Brian worked at Rockwell Collins. In recent years, he was a counselor at the Abbe Center in Cedar Rapids. Brian was an active member of the AMVETS and the Garrison American Legion. His hobbies included raising houseplants, genealogy, coin collecting and writing poetry.

Brian is survived by his wife of 25 years, Susan, of Garrison; his mother-in-law, Jean (Keith Arnold) Heitzman of Ohio; son, Jerry (Dawn) Robinson of Cedar Rapids; daughters, Jennifer (Andrew) Sauer of Vinton; Briana Robinson of Garrison; and Suzanne (Dustin) Reed of Cedar Rapids; brothers, Mike (Linda) Robinson of Ohio; Steve (Elaine) Robinson of Virginia; and George (Donna) Robinson of California; sisters, Colleen (Jon) Wilson of Virginia and “Reet” (Jack) Ferreira of Maryland; and grandchildren, Autumn, Steven, Devin, Hunter, Rylee, Lyrik, Xzavier, Starrlynn, Promise, William and Keegan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, two sisters and one grandson.

The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Brian and his family. Condolences may be left at vsrfh.com.