John Brisk

1917 - 2014

John Brisk

John P. Brisk, 96, of Belleville, Ill., born June 26, 1917, in East St. Louis, Ill., died Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Belleville, Ill.

Mr. Brisk was an agent for the Internal Revenue Service for 26 years before his retirement. He was a member of St. Teresa Catholic Church, Belleville, Ill., and the Holy Name Society at the church. He was a Eucharistic Minister. He belonged to the Knights of Columbus Council 592, and the Polish National Alliance, Chapter 1174. John was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army.

He was preceded in death by his dearest wife of 62 years, Pauline O., nee Holdener, Brisk, whom he married on Oct. 30, 1948, and who died on Aug. 3, 2011; his parents, John J. and Helen, nee Wondolowski, Brisk; a son-in-law, Kenneth Waller; a grandson, Gregory Sarmiento; three brothers, Stanley, Edwin, and Michael M. Brisk; two sisters, Vance J. Brisk, and Estelle May; and four brothers-in-law, Frederick Holdener, Anthony Holdener, Robert Schmiskie, and Delmar Thouvenot.

Surviving are his seven children, John Brisk of Belleville, Ill., Paula Waller of Freeburg, Ill., Loretta (Gary) Kramer of Lenzburg, Ill., Dolores Brisk of Mascoutah, Ill., Dorothy Sarmiento of Belleville, Ill., Ralph (Theresa) Brisk of Mascoutah, Ill., and Margaret (Steve) Wienstroer of Belleville, Ill.; a daughter-in-law, Mary C. Brisk of Swansea, Ill.; 16 grandchildren, Elizabeth Helen (Brandon) Rotz, Christine Kirchner, Sarah Waller, Matthew Waller, Jennifer Kramer (fiance, David Ott), Christopher (Erica) Procasky, Nicholas (Nikki) Procasky, Michael, Joel, and Alex Sarmiento, Jessica and Justin Brisk, and Brianna, Dean, Noah, and Shawn Wienstroer; eight great-grandchildren, Ashley, Tyler, and Michael Kirchner, Aiden, Skylar, and Camden Procasky, and Nevaeh and Nylah Procasky; five sisters-in-law, Wally Brisk, Catherine Thouvenot, Agnes Schmiske, Doris Holdener, and Lillian Holdener; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The Brisk family would like to extend a special thank you to St. Elizabeth's Hospital Intensive care Unit C.

Memorials may be made to St. Teresa Catholic Church, or to the charity of the donor's choice. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 3, 2014, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, Ill.

Funeral: Funeral procession will leave at 10:40 a.m. Tuesday, March 4, 2014, from George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, Ill., for an 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Teresa Catholic Church, Belleville, Ill., with Father Eugene Neff and Father Anthony Onyango concelebrating. Burial will be at St. Adalbert Cemetery, Fairview Heights, Ill.

GEORGE RENNER & SONS FUNERAL HOME, Belleville, Ill.