Brian Kubota Obituary

Memorial services for Brian S. Kubota will be at Immanuel Lutheran Church at 3pm on Friday, May 31, 2024. Brian died Sunday, May 19, 2024. He will be laid to rest at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence, KS.

Brian Shigeo Kubota was born in Waimea, Kauai, Hawaii on March 16, 1943 to Shigeomi and Bernice Aiko (Hamamura) Kubota. He attended Koloa Grammar School and Kauai High School in Lihue, Hawaii. He graduated from Iowa State University, Ames, IA, with a degree in Landscape Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning. He married Virginia (Ginny) Gutz on April 29, 1967. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children: Vicki, Chicago, IL and Jeff, Lawrence, KS. Also surviving are siblings: Adele (Don) Stevens, Honolulu, HI; Louella Rita, Makawao, Maui, HI; Sue Kubota, Honolulu, HI; and Burt (Debra) Kubota, Koloa, Kauai, HI.  He was also Uncle to eight nieces and nephews.

After graduating from Iowa State University, Brian was employed by Howard, Needles, Tammen & Bergendoff from 1966-1969. He then moved to Lawrence, KS and worked for the city as the Assistant Planning Director. In 1970 he joined the partnership of Robertson, Peters, Erickson, and Williams and also worked as Assistant Professor of Architecture from 1972-1973. In 1978 he established Landplan Engineering, a branch of Peters, Kubota, Glenn. Some of Brian's well-known urban design projects are Downtown Lawrence, Maupintour Travel Service (International Headquarters Building), Lawrence City Hall, Alvamar Country Club, Broken Arrow and South Junior High Schools, Lawrence Public Library and Trailridge Apartments. Alvamar West Golf Course, Orchards Golf Course, Holcomb Park and Buford M Watson, Jr. Park are additional site plans he designed. Brian won awards for Maupintour, Lawrence Town Center, Lawrence City Hall, and the Federal Office Building, Topeka, KS.

Brian served as National President and Vice President of ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects) and many boards and task forces throughout the years. He also served as ASLA Prairie Gateway Chapter trustee for several terms. He attained Fellowship status in ASLA due to his contributions, professional accomplishments, attitude, and character. He was President of the Boys' Club, Board Member of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, and Building Committee Member/Consultant of Immanuel Lutheran Church. He was also a Consultant for Corpus Christi Catholic Church and St. Lawrence Catholic Center.

After retiring from Landplan Engineering, he developed The Villas, one of Lawrence's first empty-nester, single-family home developments and The Cove, a townhouse empty-nester development. He's been a consultant for numerous developers throughout his career.

Brian and Ginny spent many winters in Naples, FL. He also loved to golf and enjoyed trips on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Many family vacations were spent with relatives in Hawaii and exploring other parts of the country. A little-known fact about Brian is that he enjoyed singing karaoke.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2104 Bob Billings Pkwy, Lawrence, KS 66049 or Visiting Nurses of Douglas County, P.O. Box 1260. Lawrence, KS 66044.

Online condolences may be made at rumsey-yost.com