“Not that I want to be a God or a hero.Just to change into a tree, grow for ages,not hurt anyone.” - Czeslaw Milosz
John Forrest Brouhard was a man of deep spiritual commitment. His favorite books were his heavily annotated Bible,which he read daily,and biography of Gandhi.This might surprise even people who knew him, because he was an amiable man with a ready laugh and little inclination for preaching or solemnity.
He loved birds and had a habit of feeding them. which did not always please neighbors who found pigeons annoying. He was also an avid birdwatcher in outdoor settings. He was not a vegetarian, but he would quietly go out his way to avoid eating chicken or turkey.
He loved music and entertained a large gathering at the City of Tempe talent show, prior to COVID, with his rendition of This Little Light of Mine. He played the harmonica and was a member of the City Tempe bluegrass music group. During his annual six months in Iowa, he sang in a Methodist choir.
He was also an avid photographer and served the Tempe Friends’ Meeting in both official and unofficial historian roles, taking pictures of key events for over 20 years, which he would often develop and give to the people he photographed or post them in locations around the meetinghouse.
JB was born in Carroll, Iowa, the son of Forrest and Lavinia (North) Brouhard. He loved Iowa deeply. His favorite activity was going for a drive in the Iowa countryside, and in his later years, he spent the summers there and the winters in Arizona. He was born in a small Iowa town, became an Eagle Scout,and served in the US Army during the Vietnam war in the communications department, posted in Korea. He earned his BA and MA at University of Iowa and his doctorate (Indiana University) in educational technology in the early days of that field. Comingoutofhisdoctoralprogram,he was accepted to a post-doctoral program in Ghana where he had an unusual and very severe reaction to malaria medication that was lastingly destabilizing.
His commitment to a simple lifestyle was heartfelt, which led to his longtime commitment to Tempe Friends Meeting. He deliberately had very few belongings and mail-ordered well-made clothing from an Amish vendor so that his few items would last a long time. He was the final owner of a string of older cars, determined to extend the life of a vehicle by getting the most out of itsfinalyears. Although his habits sometimes earned teasing as a “cheapskate,” he was generous to those in need. He was also extremely friendly with waiters and waitresses, getting to know them by name and expressing genuine interest in their lives. In truth, this fascination with the lives of others extended almost universally. In Friends’ Meeting, JB was delighted at the arrival of visitors and happy to help them feel welcome and engaged.
JB maintained a lasting friendship with ex-wife Debbie Brouhard and had a close and loving relationship with their two children – Ben and Rebecca (Becky) Brouhard. He and Becky, who lives in Gilbert, Arizona with mother Debbie, enjoyed watching football, trips to the zoo, and restaurant outings on a regular basis. With Ben, who lives in Fechy, Switzerland, he enjoyed traveling Europe and getting to know his two beloved grandchildren. JB was also a devoted partner to Jackie Hayes, with whom he enjoyed 26 years of sharing joy, homes, lives, and families.
JB will be interred at the Brouhard family plot at Vail Iowa Cemetery.