Edwin Brinskelle

Edwin Brinskelle, 91, of Glen Ellyn, IL and former longtime resident of Glendale, NY died peacefully at home with his family by his side on January 23rd, 2025.
Edwin was born in Tschermoschnitz, Yugoslavia on November 12th, 1933 to Emma Brinskelle and Adolf Schauer. He faced adversity in his childhood; he lost his father at a young age, and his family was forced to leave their home country during World War II. They were eventually resettled in Austria and then finally in Germany. He reacted to this experience not with bitterness, but with a deep appreciation for the stability he was later able to cultivate, and an acceptance of the uncertainty that life brings. He immigrated to the United States in 1956 in search of opportunity, and made a new home in Queens, New York. He met his wife, Ludwina, while bartending at a local restaurant popular amongst new arrivals from Europe, and they married in 1958. He was a talented machinist and applied his skills to program knitting machines during the peak of textile manufacturing in New York City, quickly rising in the ranks to become a leader in his workplace. He loved learning how things worked and embraced new technologies throughout his life including the computer and email in his 70s, and the iPhone in his 80s. He understood the value of education and worked hard to ensure that his descendants could pursue opportunities that were not available to him.
Edwin will be remembered above all for his kindness to every person he met. He was a gentle soul, dearly beloved by his friends and family. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years, Ludwina Brinskelle, and survived by his daughter, Christa Mannion of Glen Ellyn, Illinois; his grandchildren, Samantha Mannion of Chicago, Illinois and Ricky Mannion of Boulder, Colorado; his sister, Elli Stempel of Duisburg, Germany and his brother, Helmuth Josef Schmuck of Duisburg, Germany. He was a beloved uncle to many nieces and nephews and a dear brother-in-law to his wife's family.
Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 pm at Leonard Funeral Home in Glen Ellyn, Illinois on Sunday, February 2nd. The funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am at St. Petronille Church, 420 Glenwood Avenue, Glen Ellyn, Illinois on Monday, February 3rd. Livestreaming Edwin's funeral mass can be accessed via St. Petronille Catholic Church beginning 11 am CST on Monday, February 3rd.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: International Rescue Committee online at https://www.rescue.org or The American Red Cross https://www.redcross.org/