Dr. Richard A. Brose

Dr. Richard A. Brose, 87, was born in Blawnox, PA, in 1931, to Herman and Hannah Brose.  He served as a medic in the US Air Force during the Korean War, and was later commissioned in the Air Force Reserve, Medical Service Corps.  He attended the University of Pittsburgh, earning Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees.

Dick was an epidemiologist and professional educator who taught on the faculties of the University of Kansas and University of Missouri-Kansas City Schools of Medicine. During that time, he developed an Emergency Department Categorization System which was adopted by the American Hospital Association, and serves as the basis of the current categorization of hospital emergency departments.  He also worked to improve pre-hospital emergency services through ambulance redesign, EMT, paramedic, police and fire personnel training, including the entire cadre of the Kansas Highway Patrol through a Department of Transportation grant. Dick also taught graduate health care courses for Central Michigan, Rockhurst, Avila, Park, Walden and Benedictine Universities.

Following a brief retirement, he worked for the Clay County Health Department, Office of Homeland Security, as a regional epidemiologist and FEMA instructor, where he again trained first responders and others to respond to the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction. He served as volunteer medical director for the Emergency Services Division of the Clay County Sheriff's Department, and developed a number of county-wide programs.

Dick enjoyed a social life as a clown for the Ararat Shrine and clown ministries, as well as serving as a zoo docent and hospital volunteer. He founded the Liberty High School Music Boosters Organization to promote both instrumental and vocal music in the school system. He was a member of the Liberty United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge 548 F&AM, Ararat Shrine, American Legion and Reserve Officers' Association.

Survivors include his wife, Dr. Carolyn Brose of the home; daughter, Dr. Andrea Zartman, a Dallas neuropsychologist; son, David Brose, a Kansas City attorney; son-in-law, Jason Zartman; daughter-in-law, Dr. Amy Brose; and three grandchildren, Ava, Anna, and Zachary.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 am, followed by a service celebrating Dick's life at 11:00 am, on Thursday, February 14, at Park Lawn Northland Chapel, I 35 at State Route 291, Liberty.  Interment with military honors will follow at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Great Plains SPCA.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 am, followed by a service celebrating Dick’s life at 11:00 am, on Thursday, February 14, at Park Lawn Northland Chapel, I 35 at State Route 291, Liberty.  Interment with military honors will follow at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, MO.