John Brinser Jr.

GREELEY, Colo. – John William Brinser Jr., 85, died July 6, 2009, at Centennial Health Care. He was born May 29, 1924, in Philadelphia, the sixth child of John William and Sadie Elizabeth Nauss Brinser. John attended school in New Britain and Doylestown, Pa., graduating from Doylestown High School. On Oct. 27, 1942, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and became a pilot. He was assigned to the 99th Bomb Group, 347th Bomb Squadron, 15th Air Force, in Italy as a B-17 pilot. The plane was shot down in Oct. 1944, and he was held a prisoner of war by the Germans in Stalag Luft 1, Barth, until May 1945. On Oct. 17, 1945, he married his high school sweetheart, Jeannette Filmonowiz. They had two children, his daughter, Barbara Jean, and son, Brian Keith. Jeanette died Feb. 17, 1985. After the war he attended the University of Pennsylvania and received his degree in mechanical engineering. From 1957 until retiring in 1981, he worked in the computer industry as tool design supervisor of manufacturing engineering at Univac. After moving to Colorado from Bristol Tennessee, he married Lorna Miller Geist in Greeley on Nov. 29, 1985. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1969 as a lieutenant colonel. He saw action and service in World War II, the Berlin Airlift and Korea. His retirement years were spent enjoying his love of woodworking and computers. He especially enjoyed helping the children and grandchildren as needed. In 1997, he supervised the building of a Habitat home for which JCPenneys awarded him the Golden Rule Award. He also volunteered for the Bristol Tennessee Rehabilitation Center and the March of Dimes in Bristol. John was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Greeley and a past member of Saint Columbus Episcopal Church in Bristol. John is survived by wife, Lorna; sister, Laura Salie of Doylestown, Pa.; daughter, Barbara and husband Terry Weiss, Landsdale, Pa.; son, Brian and wife Jill; three grandchildren, Will, Sarah and Emily Brinser, Bristol Tennessee; and three stepsons, Michael and Carol Geist and family, Randy and Penni Geist and family and Lee and Julie Geist and family. Memorial services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, July 13, 2009, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 3000 35th Ave., Greeley. Interment was held in the Fort Logan National Cemetery, with military honors. Memorials may be sent to Weld County Veterans Memorial, P.O Box 1016, Greeley, CO 80632-1016. Information courtesy of Weaver Funeral Home.