Donald Richard "Don" Brinkman

Donald Richard "Don" Brinkman of Tecumseh departed his earthly home and entered the mansion prepared for him in heaven on Nov. 14, 2010, from complications of Parkinson's disease.

Don was born April 28, 1932, at Sterling, to George and Lena (Weber) Brinkman. He graduated from Sterling High School in 1949.

On June 20, 1952, he married Martha Straube. He entered the U.S. Army in September of that same year and was discharged September 1954. He and Martha took over the family dairy business after his discharge. In the fall of 1965, he purchased the GM dealership in Tecumseh. which he managed until retirement. He continued to work until his health prohibited it.

Don has been a member of St John Lutheran Church, Tecumseh, since 1965. He held many church offices, was a member of LLL and sang in the choir. He held life membership in both the American Legion and V.F.W. He served as commander of the Johnson County Legion for two years. He was a member of both the Tecumseh and Johnson County Chamber of Commerce and served as president of the Tecumseh Chamber.

Don enjoyed fishing, bowling and golfing. He was a member of the University of Nebraska Wheels Club and loved attending Husker football games.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Daniel Paul; his parents; sister, Leona Wolters; brother, Melvin Brinkman; and three brothers-in-law, Edwin Wolters, Clarence Stout and Richard Straube.

Those left to morn his passing are his wife Martha of 58 years; son Kenneth Brinkman and wife Debbie of Tecumseh; daughter Jennifer Brinkman of Charlestown, Mass.; two grandchildren, Kelly Brinkman and Adam Ramsey; and two great-grandchildren, Lillianna and Aiden Ramsey, all of Tecumseh; brother, Wilmer Brinkman and wife Maud of Sterling; sister, Bernice Stout of Holyoke Colo.; sisters-in-law, Ruth Solomons (Robert), Sterling, Mildred Harms (Eddie), Syracuse, Dorothy Johnson (Dale), Wahoo, Faye Brinkman, Lincoln and Nora Straube, York; many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

  Funeral services will be held at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Tecumseh at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 19. Visitation will be at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Thursday, Nov. 18, from 9 a.m.-8 p.m., with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to Asera Care Hospice or St. John Lutheran Church, Tecumseh, and designated for the "Biblical Garden." Interment will be in the Tecumseh Cemetery, with full military honors.