Robert (Bob) Carrol Brunk

January 11, 1932 - October 11, 2025

Robert (Bob) Carrol Brunk, 93, of Basin, Wyo., passed Oct. 11, 2025, at Thermopolis Rehabilitation and Wellness Center.  Robert Brunk was born Jan. 11, 1932, to Carrol R. and Margaret (Stark) Brunk.  Bob married Dorothy H Lindstrom in Billings, Mont., on Dec. 27, 1950, and they enjoyed 63 years together.

Shortly after his marriage to Dorothy, Bob joined the Army and was stationed in Fort Lewis Wash. In 1955, they moved back to the Cody area where he cowboyed at various ranches in the area until buying a ranch in Riverton, Wyo.. and becoming a Wyoming state brand inspector. Bob also was one of the first in the area to learn how and use artificial insemination to improve his herd of Angus cattle as well as other ranches and dairy herds in the Riverton area.

In 1970, they moved to Ten Sleep, Wyo., and ranched for many years on the Upper Nowood while also working with the State of Wyoming as a livestock enforcement officer until retiring and moving to Cody, Wyo., in 2002.

After his beloved wife Dorothy passed, he moved to Basin, Wyo., where he lived on his grandson’s farm and enjoyed keeping track of the crops and cattle of his grandson and daughter; he also enjoyed the many grandkids that would drop by and spend time with him.

Bob was an avid Pinochle player and spent hours playing at the Senior Center as well as around the kitchen table with friends and family.  When he wasn’t working cattle, he could be found fishing or spending time with family telling stories of the many cowboying adventures in his life.

Bob was proceeded in death by his parents, wife Dorothy (Lindstrom) Brunk, daughters Cherie (Brunk) Gopp and Cynthia Brunk, grandson Cory Gopp and son in law Bob Paxton. 

Bob is survived by his loving family, daughter Bobbi K Paxton of Basin, Wyo., son Curtis Brunk and Ben Costa of Pahoa, Hawaii, son Aaron Brunk (Carly), of Havre, Mont. Bob was blessed with nine grandchildren: Zack Paxton (Christina) of Sheridan, Wyo., Brenton Paxton (Justine) of Basin, Wyo., Misty (Brunk) Hopsecker (Lathan) of Douglas, Wyo., Jessica Brunk of  Portland, Ore., Brandi (Brunk) Essick (Wade) of Seattle, Wash., Cody Brunk of Tigrad, Ore., Chelsea (Nottingham) Veis (Tanner) of Tulsa, Okla., Sarah Nottingham of Bozeman, Mont., and Clay Nottingham (Callie) of Billings, Mont., along with 12 great-grandchildren.

Cremation was performed and a private ceremony will be held later with friends and family.