Phyllis Louise Brinkman

Phyllis Brinkman, 97 of Clarion formerly of Gilmore City, passed away Monday, December 9, 2024, at The Meadows Assisted Living in Clarion. A memorial service for Phyllis will be held next Summer at Faith United Methodist Church, Gilmore City, Iowa. Services have been entrusted to Lentz Funeral Home of Gilmore City. www.lentzfuneralhome.com
Family is requesting plants, flowers and trees not to be purchased and sent. They would like memorials to be directed to the Gilmore City Public Library in honor of Phyllis.
Phyllis Louise (Tillman) Brinkman was born July 13, 1927, on a farm southwest of Clarion to Vera Mechem and Ray Tillman. There were nine children in the Tillman family. Phyllis died December 9, 2024, at the Meadows Assisted Senior Living Community in Clarion, Iowa at the age of 97. Her world view was shaped by the Great Depression, and she was proud to be a member of the Greatest Generation.
Phyllis graduated from Dows High School and attended Ellsworth College earning her teaching credentials. She taught in rural schools, including one-room schoolhouses, for six years. She substitute-taught in surrounding grade schools for decades.
Phyllis married Kenneth Brinkman in 1946. They had three children Kurt (Nadia), Brian, and Susan (Kevin). She had three grandchildren: Heather (Ben) Brinkman Lent, Ashley (Dan) Brinkman McClure, and Lauren Kuss; and five great-grandchildren: Liana, Jackson, and Brennan Lent and Gabriel and Roman Mendoza. She was predeceased by Brian, Ken, and Kevin.
The Brinkmans moved from Dows, Iowa to Gilmore City, Iowa in 1968 where Phyllis continued substitute teaching. She taught Sunday School and Bible School at the Methodist Churches in Dows and Gilmore City for 50 years. For many years she led Story Hour at the Gilmore City Public Library and is remembered fondly for her lively storytelling.
Phyllis was at her core a teacher. She made learning fun. She never demeaned children and considered teaching them a privilege.