Wes Brosman, age 82 of Aberdeen, Washington, passed away Aug. 29, 2019. He was born Feb. 5, 1937, in the San Joaquin Valley in the heart of the depression to Dust Bowl immigrants to California. He struggled to adapt to a life as a nearly deaf person in an era of little or no social services nor aid to hearing impaired persons.

He is preceded in death by both parents and brother, Roy L.

Wes is survived by wife, Jana, his two sons, Bradley, of California and Gregory of Georgia, two daughters, Correen Mullis, of Vancouver, Washington, and Jennifer Brosman, of Ohio, brother, James, of California, sister, Irene, of Arizona, and eight grandchildren.

He married Jana, the stepmother to his four children in 1969.

He dropped out of the 11th grade when a teacher told him he would never hold a decent job because of his poor hearing. Depressed, he moved from Blythe, California to Las Vegas, Nevada. He continued his education, attending various colleges whenever possible.

In his earlier years he did everything he could to support a growing family and still go to school. He had been a service station attendant, truck driver, factory worker, union organizer, plumber, bought and sold real estate and a self-employed remodeling contractor. In his 40s he retired for health reasons.

They sold their home in Arroyo Grande, California and bought a one-way ticket to Europe, backpacking from Scandinavia to Turkey for 10 months. He was so excited to visit places he had only read about in history books. The next trip they rode his motorcycle from California to Canada, then flew to Europe for another years long trip. He and Jana did over 20 more trips to Europe. In England, he took courses to become a teacher of English as a foreign language. While in Spain, he taught English. He had always wanted to be a teacher. With hearing aids, this was possible. They also traveled to Mexico, the Philippines and Hong Kong.

He had to return to Blythe, California, to care for his mother. He started his new career teaching second and third grades and special education. While teaching, he earned his masters degree and teaching credential.

During this time, he started writing his memoirs of his early years being almost totally deaf, “No Place Else.” He did not want to go to school because his name was “Dumbie.” His teachers thought he was retarded and was cheating when he made good grades. This book was to help teachers become aware of students with hearing problems.

He retired in 2000 and moved to Aberdeen, Washington.

Wes was active in The Hearing Loss Association, ACLU, Americans with Disabilities and the Olympians Hiking Club. He looked forward every year to “Rainy Day Read” at the Aberdeen Timberland Library. He gave a review almost every year.

There will be no services as he requested.