Roberta “Bobbie” Bruecker (March 8, 1933 – January 10, 2023)
Bobbie Bruecker, age 89, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. She was a longtime resident of Madera County and lived at Cedar Creek Senior Living for over four years.
On March 8, 1933, Bobbie was born to Robert and Francis McKay in Springfield, Illinois. At the age of 7, she moved to San Mateo County with her parents.
Bobbie was known for her lifetime love of animals – especially horses. At the age of 8, she started riding horses along with her mother at their local stables. Soon after noticing her enthusiasm and talent for riding, her parents bought Bobbie her first horse.
Bobbie attended school in San Mateo County before transferring to a boarding school in Lake Forest, Illinois as a teenager to finish her education. After graduation, Bobbie returned to California and attended San Mateo Junior College.
It wasn’t long after she moved back to San Mateo that she met the love of her life, Charles “Chuck” Bruecker. The couple were married in 1952 and had three children together. In 1963, they moved their family to their dream ranch in Dixieland area of Madera, where Bobbie had more room for her first love– horses. Throughout her life, Bobbie was an accomplished horsewoman in many disciplines. If it involved a horse, she was going to do it and do it well.
She was a volunteer with the Madera County Mounted Search and Rescue team, a member of the Fresno Trail Riders, Merced Horsemen’s Association, Backcountry Horsemen of California, and the Central California Cutting Club (CCCC). Bobbie was also a proud member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants.
Bobbie worked at United Vintners in Madera for 32 years, where she was the first woman to become a line captain at the winery – a milestone of which she was incredibly proud.
Her early retirement years were spent with Chuck on their ranch in Raymond, where they raised cattle, continued to care for her horses, and spent time with their beloved grandchildren.
Bobbie was preceded in death by her loving husband of 50 years, Chuck. She is survived by daughters Debbie Bruecker and Lori (Richard) Vizcarra, son Charlie Bruecker (Kelsey), 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will held on January 25, 2023 at 2 p.m. at San Joaquin Winery in Madera.
Remembrances may be made to:
Valley Children’s Healthcare Foundation
9300 Valley Children’s Place M/S PC17
Madera, CA 93636
Cystic Fibrosis Research Institute
1731 Embarcadero Rd Suite 210
Palo Alto, CA 94303