Geraldine Brinkman

1940 - 2025

Geraldine Brinkman

December 24, 1940 - November 28, 2025

Geraldine A. Brinkman, age 84, of Washburn and formerly of Ino, passed away peacefully, with her loving family by her side, Friday, November 28, 2025 at Court Manor Health Services in Ashland. She was born December 24, 1940 in St. Cloud, MN, the daughter of Jerome Beaudreau and Bernice (Rudenick) Beaudreau Goedert.

She attended high school in St. Cloud at St. Francis of Assisi. On August 3rd, 1957, she married Marshall Brinkman at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sauk Rapids, MN. She spent the early years of her marriage in Menomonie, WI working various jobs while raising her three children.

In 1972, the family moved to Ino after purchasing the Ino Bar, which Gerry co-owned and operated until it was sold in 1984. During this time, Marshall and Gerry also owned and operated Brinkman Hide & Fur, where Gerry handled all the bookkeeping. After selling the bar, Gerry and her husband became "snowbirds", spending winters in Florida, Texas and Mexico, returning to Ino each Spring. They eventually built a new home there and opened Marsh & Gerry's Bar and a used furniture outlet in 1990 until Gerry closed the bar in 2008 after her husband's passing and a few years later, moved to Washburn.

She spent many hours outdoors, alongside Marshall, fishing, trapping, raccoon hunting and picking ginseng. Together they attended many auctions and sales and on occasion, ran their own flea markets - usually with items brought back from their winter excursions.

Gerry loved putting together complicated puzzles (which her family would seek out for her), doing crosswords and puzzle books and reading. She was an avid reader, reading an untold number of books during her lifetime. She also enjoyed trips to the casino and visiting with her tavern clientele over the years. She was also a great artist - every year when they owned Ino Bar, she would draw up the annual "buck board" during the gun hunting season with elaborate deer scenes.

To her family and friends, she was a treasure trove of stories and memories - mostly from her years of tending bar. We will greatly miss these stories as well as her laughter as she told them. She was an example of true strength -full of grit, resilience and determination. She loved her family, especially her grandchildren. Her home was always open to them, and she really enjoyed it when they visited her. She would say "come back and visit me any time!" We are sad she is gone and we will miss her dearly. She will be remembered and loved always.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Marshall; her daughter, Kimberly Brinkman; a grandson, Marshall Thomas Brinkman; and her brother, Lester Beernink.

She is survived and loved by her children; Marshall (Joann) Brinkman of Menomonie and Shelly (Bob) Hamann of Mason, grandchildren; Christopher (Pam) Brinkman, Lindsay Jones, Jacob (Nicole) McQuiston, Marsha (Russell) Franzel, Missy (Ross) Fuhrman, and Bobby Hamann; great grandchildren, Lajuan, Kathryn, Amya, Molly, Makenzie, and Macy; a great-great grandchild, Lajuan Connor; sisters Yvonne Wright and Luann Miller; sisters-in-law Dorothy Yaeger and Mary Brinkman, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

The family would especially like to thank all Court Manor staff for the compassionate care Gerry received during her time there, as well as Kristy, her in-home physical therapist, and Jan, for the assistance received in Gerry's time of need.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, June 6, 2026 at the Frost Funeral Home in Ashland. Visitation will begin an hour prior, and a reception will follow the services, all at the funeral home.

Frost Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.