Gregory Scott Brinkmeyer

Gregory Scott Brinkmeyer, husband, father and proud veteran died Friday December 3, 2010 at TMC, Tucson, Arizona. He was 42yrs old and a resident of Tucson. Gregg died from complications resulting from a two year long battle with sarcoma cancer, which had returned after being cancer free for nearly four wonderful years spent enjoying and living life to its fullest along with his family. Gregg was born the youngest son in 1968 in Storm Lake, Iowa to parents Marc Alan Brinkmeyer and Sharon Sue Foster Brinkmeyer. Having graduated high school at Gonzaga Prep, Gregg considered Spokane, Washington his hometown. Gregg studied the bass violin through out high school, playing in the jazz band and stage band before attending the University of Idaho, to study music. Gregg was very proud of the time he spent serving in the Armed Forces. While serving in the Army as a Psychological Operations Specialist in his Airborne Division he traveled and studied languages. He would often talk about how the experiences he had taught him to appreciate the diversity of cultures and their various traditions and religions. The friends he made during those years were very important to him, and the life experiences he shared with them colored the person he grew to be over time. After serving four years, Gregg returned to the University of Idaho and Lewis-Clark College, in Lewiston Idaho to study International Business and Communication. While his plans to return to the armed forces after attending OTC were not to be realized, due to physical and health complications, Gregg never stopped studying and learning more about the world he lived in. He was an avid history enthusiast and would later share that love with his wife and children. While studying at Lewis-Clark College Gregg met his love of 12 years and wife for seven, Cindy. In 2003 they were married and later welcomed their daughter Maxahna Sue Brinkmeyer. Gregg also had two stepchildren, Margo and Morgan Badman. After working as management for the Eckerd Corporation for 2 years Gregg took his love of learning to another level, returning to PIMA Community College to begin his journey to become a Pharmacist. It was Gregg's first encounter with cancer in 2004 that began to take that dream from him. Even though Gregg was unable to complete his studies he never stopped learning. Often when he was too ill to do anything else Gregg would read. He especially loved history and he continued to learn about other cultures and civilizations sharing his love of reading with his daughter Maxie. After beating cancer the first time Gregg's love of life and appreciation of everything that entails only grew. He strived to share new explorations and experiences with his wife and children whenever possible. There wasn't anything Gregg wouldn't try, from lessons in Ballroom dancing and cooking to continuing to expand his knowledge of languages by teaching himself new languages at home on the computer. Being concerned for experiences he might not be able to share with his daughter, Gregg set to task. Not wanting Maxie to miss having a father-daughter dance, Gregg studied ballroom dancing and competed at the amateur- amateur level with Maxie last Spring in Phoenix. Being the devoted father and husband, some of his favorite memories he had were of spending time with his family. Family trips to Disney World, carriage rides in Central Park, front row seats at a Broadway show, taking photos at the Grand Canyon, it didn't matter as long as his family was together and happy. Some of Gregg's favorite daily tasks involved his daughter Maxie which is why he was known as a generous and loving father. Whether it was driving to and from school, to ballet lessons, or class field trips Gregg was there. He never missed a single event that Maxie was involved in, even attending a special day at her school just a week before he passed. His devotion didn't stop there, he was filled with pride for both of his step-children and did all he could to encourage them to follow their dreams and achieve whatever goals they set for themselves. Having moved to Arizona in order to support his mother Sue in her own battle with returning cancer, Gregg's biggest disappointment was that she passed away before meeting her only grandchild, the little girl that she had always wanted, just weeks before she was born. Knowing how much a little girl meant to his mother and how she would have loved to spoil her, he would often quote her when giving "his girls" gifts, saying " Girls need pretty things." Those who remain to miss his presence are his wife Cindy L Brinkmeyer, his daughter Maxahna Sue Brinkmeyer 7yrs, two stepchildren Margo Leigh Badman 27yrs, and Morgan Daniel Badman 25yrs, father Marc Brinkmeyer, grandmother Verona Foster, closest friend Brian (Butch) Weyer, along with several aunts and uncles, cousins, classmates, friends and his brothers with whom he served. Gregg is predeceased by his mother Sharon Sue Brinkmeyer, two grandfathers Fritz Brinkmeyer and Benny Foster, and one grandmother Yvonne Brinkmeyer. Services for Gregg will be held Tuesday, December 28,2010 at 1:00pm at Bring's Broadway Chapel, 6910 E. Broadway in Tucson, AZ. A reception will follow at the Hilton Hotel, Broadway Blvd., in Tucson, AZ. Gregg felt appreciation for all those who assisted him while he fought his battle with cancer, his wife Cindy and step-daughter Margo for devotion to him and his comfort, everyone at Tucson Oncology, our family doctor, our councilors, all the surgeons, doctors and nurses that cared for him during his stays at TMC, all the many friends and neighbors who offered their love, prayers and support especially the staff, teachers, and parents at Castle Hill Day School and Tucson Ballet. Whenever out and the family would be separated, Gregg would bring everyone back together by cheerfully calling out "Marco!" and awaiting our response "Polo". We know that Gregg is somewhere now calling out "Marco," and patiently and without pain awaiting our response one day.