Reuben William Colburn's Obituary
Reuben William Bernard Colburn, the son of Carl Ferdinand William and Martha Henrietta (Kowalke) Colburn, was born on September 4, 1921 in Wolsey, South Dakota, the second oldest of seven children, five girls and two boys.
During his childhood his parents farmed at various locations in Beadle County, near present day Huron, South Dakota. In his childhood, Reuben would naturally have been busy helping his parents with the daily chores of farming, including the daily milking of their 22 dairy cows—milking in those days that was still done by hand.
Reuben’s youngest sister Agnes was born when the family moved to Artesian, South Dakota. In the year 2000, Agnes wrote a history celebrating their mother’s 100th birthday. In that history, Agnes writes about Reuben’s birth and his subsequent leaving the nest.
She writes: When Martha [Reuben’s mother] got pregnant again, her mother wanted Martha to stay with her, being there had been so many problems with [her first child Rosalie who died in infancy]…So Martha did stay with her mother, and gave birth to a healthy baby boy, on a Sunday morning. They named him Reuben William Bernard Colburn.
After the family had moved to Artesian, South Dakota, Agnes writes: The family was now starting to get smaller, as the children grew up and began to leave home. Reuben was the first, he finished his schooling and married Eileen Schuster and moved to Tacoma, Washington, where the school had found him a position. Reuben and Eileen had two boys, Darrell and Kenneth.
And so indeed it was that on that on January 3, 1942 Reuben and Eileen were married in Tacoma. Just a week ago today would have been their 73rd wedding anniversary.
Reuben’s first job was at the Naval Shipyards in Bremerton where he worked on catapults on aircraft carriers. These were the war years, but Reuben was not able to enlist because he had flat-feet. Perhaps also a factor was that by this time in his life, Reuben had already walked away from the Angel of Death twice—as he would one more time a few years later.
First, when he was 19 years old, Reuben fell off of a farm silo and cracked his head open. He survived and recovered. Also early in his life he had worked at a feed mill and survived when a belt on the machine slapped his arm in 10 places. His arm should perhaps have been amputated, but he survived. Years later while on his way to work in the Tacoma area at Allied Building Components, he was hit by a train while crossing McKinley Avenue. It was a very foggy morning when he waited for the train to pass. What he didn’t know was that there was a second train behind the first one. The second train hit him and dragged his vehicle 300 feet. The impact caused his head to be punched through the windshield. Again, Reuben survived.
Eileen found work where possible in those days. Son Darrell was born in 1950, and son Kenneth in 1952. Reuben worked many jobs, often two per day, until finally deciding to start his own business in 1963. So was born Custom Bi-fold Door Company. Because of his tireless work ethic, the company survived until 2000. At the age of 80, Reuben closed the business and turned to conquering the blackberry vines that had taken over the property where they had lived in the same house since 1963.
In their childhood days, son Darrell remembers trips to the ocean to dig for clams—and times spent fishing and hunting rabbits. Darrell remembers a time when he was 12 years old that they went on a charter boat for a special fishing outing.
Eileen was always a faithful companion and helpmate. Even into retirement she would make his lunch each day and place his lunchbox and thermos on the counter near the door. In later years they helped each other with daily eye drops in each other’s eyes. Just this past April, the passing of Eileen took his spirit and finally his soul.
During their lifetime, they were faithful members of Hope Lutheran Church in Tacoma. Perhaps it’s also ironic that Hope Lutheran just closed its doors as a congregation in this past year as well.
Reuben was deeply saddened by the accidental death of his son Kenneth in 2001. Kenneth was just completing his mountain rescue training when he was killed in a fall.
Two or three years ago Reuben had a fall outdoors while doing battle with the blackberry vines. It seemed to mark the beginning of his decline. Reuben died on December 29, 2014, having attained the age of 93 years.
The family very much wants to express appreciation to the Visiting Angels for their care giving—especially to caregiver Ruth whom he loved and adored. The family also wishes to express deep gratitude to next door neighbors Marshall and Pam for a long history of neighborly deeds, including trips to doctors and getting the mail.
He is survived by his son Darrell and his wife Marcie, daughter-in-law Karen Colburn; sisters Erma and Agnes; brother Marvin; grandchildren Jason, Trina, Alysia, Jessica; and great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, his son Kenneth, and sisters Rosalie, Mabel and Frieda.
What’s your fondest memory of Reuben ?
What’s a lesson you learned from Reuben ?
Share a story where Reuben 's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Reuben you’ll never forget.
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