Leonard William Brinkman

Leonard William Brinkman passed away after a stroke at Park West Hospital 9/29/2025 at the age of 92.

He was born 1/7/1933 to Leonard and Edna (Mundstock) Brinkman in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He was raised in La Crosse and went to high school at Northwestern Preparatory School in Watertown Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison where he majored in Geography. He enlisted in the Army and trained at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. He was stationed first in Germany and then in Turkey where he served as a radio interceptor. He received the Army Good Conduct Metal. He left the army in 1957. He then went to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin. During this time, he married Doris Jean Lewison on 8/26/1961. He earned a PhD in Geography. He taught as a visiting professor for several years in Melbourne, Australia where his children were born before returning to the United States in 1967 and obtaining a position at the University of Tennessee. During his time as a professor besides enjoying teaching he loved running the department's map library. He retired from the University in January 2000. He was granted a Professor Emeritus.

He was preceded in death by his wife Doris Jean Brinkman. They enjoyed 60 years of marriage. He was also preceded in death by his parents and brother Frederick Brinkman, and his in-laws Lorraine (Lewison) Adams, Charlie Adams, and Ronald Lewison.

Loving father to Anne Brinkman (Bradley Kunz) and Carl Brinkman. Adoring grandfather to Christina Kunz and Gwendolyn Kunz. He is also survived by in-laws Karen Brinkman, Jane and Hugh Roberts, Bev Lewison along with several nieces and nephews.

Over his life he enjoyed fishing and gardening. He collected stamps and later antiques. As he got older, he also enjoyed traveling with his wife. They went on many lovely trips to many different countries including 18 cruises. He was especially happy to go on trips to the beach that included his family, collecting sharks teeth. He was an avid reader and a ferocious Pinochle player throughout his life. Both of which he enjoyed up until the day he died.

Besides his love and care, He gave his children love of gardening, love of reading, love of travel and other cultures along with so much else. We will cherish his memory. He was a good father and grandfather.