OBITUARY-BEECHER HERALD-MAY 1916
Mrs. Justine Brenker

The death of Mrs. Justine Brenker occurred last Saturday at 2 p.m., at her home on Indiana Street after an illness extending from before Christmas of old age imfirmities, aged 81 years, 1 month and 7 days.

Justine Tegtmeier was born April 20, 1835 at Borstel, Germany, and came to America in 1850. On Feb. 18, 1854 she was married to Fred Brenker at West Creek Township, Ind. To this union seven children were born, one son, Herman passing away in 1888. The surviving children are Charles F. Brenker of Colorado, Mrs. Louise Dohmeyer of Goodnenow, Mrs. Anna Tatge of Beecher, George H. Brenker of Colorado, Mrs. Amelia Hunte of Springville, IA, and Mrs. Amanda Shiek of Beecher.

Mr. and Mrs. Brenker lived on a homestead in West Creek township until 1900, when they moved to Beecher to live in retirement. Here they lived happily until on March 26, 1914, when Mr. Brenker was called to his reward. Since then she has lived here alone, except when her daughter, Mrs. Shiek, has cared for her.

Deceased was an esteemed lady, was a good neighbor and had a large following of friends.

The funeral was held at 1 o'clock, Tuesday afternoon, at the house and at 1:30 o'clock at the Evangelical St. Lucas church, Rev. Horst officiating. Interment was in the Beecher Cemetery.


FRIEDRICH BRENKER OBITUARY BEECHER HERALD MARCH 1914
After a lingering illness of several weeks, Fred Brenker, the oldest citizen of Beecher and possibly of this section of the state, died Thursday afternoon March 26, at 5 o'clock at his home on Indiana Street, aged 92 years, 4 months, 19 days. The immediate cause of his death was old age.

He was born Nov. 7, 1821, at Rapsick, province Schwedenberg, Lippe Dedsmold. Germany. He came to America May 1, 1848, but he returned to his native land Nov. 3, 1849, where he resided until March 1, 1851, when he made his return trip to America, locating and making his home at West Creek township, Indiana. Here he was married to Justine Tegtmeier. Seven children were born to this union, three sons and four daughters. One son, Herman, preceded his father to his final reward. The surviving children are Charles, of Brush, Col., Mrs. Conrad Dohmeier, of Goodenow, Ill., Mrs. Wm. Tatge, of Beecher, George, of Denver, Col., Mrs. Fred Hunte, of Springfield, Iowa, and Miss Amanda, of Beecher.

He is survived by his aged wife, six children, 12 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Funeral took place Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock from his late home to St. Lucas Ev. church, where Rev. G. Horst conducted the service. A large concourse of friends and relatives were present to pay their respects to one of the most venerable citizens in Beecher. Interment in St. Lucas cemetery.

Waverly Phoenix, Bremer County, IA Newspaper - April 1, 1914
H.H.C. Tegtmeier and August Tegtmeier from Buck Creek traveled Saturday night to Beecher, IL, where they attended the funeral of an uncle who was 96 years old.

1. Friedrich Carl CHARLES Brenker
   Born 14 FEB 1855, West Creek Twp., Lake Co., IN
   Baptized: MAY 1855, Eagle Lake St. Johns, Beecher Will Co IL
   Died 07 MAR 1942, Snyder, Morgan Co., CO
   Buried: Brush, Morgan Co., CO
   Occupation: Grocery/Rancher
   Married (1) 25 OCT 1881, in Denver, Denver Co., CO
   Rosetta M. Smith
   Born 1856, Died SEP 1934, Denver, Denver Co., CO
   Buried: 01 OCT 1934, Riverside Cemetery, Denver, Denver Co., CO
   Married (2)
   Janet Bevins
   
   

   CHARLES BRENKER
   Charles Brenker was a pioneer. He left home with his brothers George and Herman and went to Colorado on 01 APR 1876. With his brothers, he ran a grocery store called "Green & Brinker Grocers" at 517 Larimer Street, in Denver, CO. Another store at 1516 Blake or Market Street, Denver. He was 21 years old and remained in the grocery business for 25 years. In 1901 he moved from Denver to Snyder. From the HISTORY OF EAST MORGAN COUNTY BOOK- Brets Hotel was just north of the Snyder Mercantile Store. Mr. Brinker built a store north of the Bret Hotel." He was a stockman and rancher, raising hereford cattle and sheep, farming sugar beets and cantalopes. His branding iron, a cloverleaf for his "Cloverleaf Ranch", is in a private collection of irons in Morgan, CO. Into his 80's, he remained an active rancher and rode horses.

   
   
2. Louise Maria Brenker
   Born 07 FEB 1858, Lake Co., IN OR Will Co., IL
   Baptized: FEB 1858, Eagle Lake St. Johns, Beecher Will Co IL
   Died 29 APR 1943, Will Co., IL
   Buried: Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Crete, IL.
   Married 14 MAR 1886, in Trinity Luth. Ch., Crete, Will Co., IL
   Johann CONRAD Dohmeyer
   Born 09 JUL 1860, Crete, Will Co., IL
   Baptized: 19 AUG 1860, Trinity Luth. Ch., Crete, Will Co., IL
   (son of Johann OTTO Dohmeyer and Engel MARIA Sophia Schweer)
   Died 18 SEP 1926, Beecher, Will Co., IL
   Buried: Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Crete, IL
   
   
3. Karoline Dorothea ANNA Brenker
   Born 09 OCT 1860, Lake Co., IN
   Baptized: 09 DEC 1860, Zion UCC, Dyer, Lake Co., IN
   Died 21 FEB 1941
   Buried: Eagle Lake St. Johns, Beecher Will Co IL
   Married 12 JUN 1887, in Eagle Lake St. Johns, Beecher Will Co IL
   Wilhelm Tatge
   Born 01 AUG 1859, Will Co., IL
   Baptized: AUG 1859, Eagle Lake St. Johns, Beecher Will Co IL
   (son of Johann Heinrich Tatge Sr. and Caroline Weber)
   Died 07 AUG 1941
   Buried: Eagle Lake St. Johns, Beecher Will Co IL
   
   
4. Hermann Heinrich Friedrich Brenker
   Born 30 SEP 1863, Hanover Twp., Lake Co., IN OR Will Co., IL
   Baptized: Zion UCC, Dyer, Lake Co., IN
   Died 23 JAN 1889, Denver, Denver Co., CO
   Buried: 29 JAN 1889, St. John UCC Cemetery, Beecher, IL
   (UnMarried).
   
   
5. Heinrich GEORGE Brenker
   Born 20 MAY 1866, IN
   Baptized: 29 JUL 1866, St. John UCC, Beecher, Will Co., IL
   Died 1940, Denver, Denver Co., CO
   Married Bertha (SURNAME)
   
   
6. Amelia MILLIE Justine Sophia Brenker
   Born 27 DEC 1868, West Creek Twp., Lake Co., IN
   Baptized: 07 FEB 1869, St. John UCC, Beecher, Will Co., IL
   Died 02 NOV 1941, Springville, Linn Co., IA
   Buried: Springville, Linn Co., IA
   Married 03 DEC 1893, in St. John UCC, Beecher, Will Co., IL
   Heinrich Georg Franz Friedrich Hunte
   Born 11 AUG 1866, Beecher, Will Co., IL
   Baptized: 11 NOV 1866, St. John UCC, Beecher, Will Co., IL
   (son of Ludwig Hunte and Dorothea Caroline Char. Wilh. Ebeling)
   Occupation: Furniture/Undertaker
   Died 29 JAN 1950, Springville, Linn Co., IA
   Buried: Springville, Linn Co., IA
   
   
7. Sophia AMANDA Brenker
   Born 23 SEP 1874, IN
   Baptized: 08 NOV 1874, St. John UCC, Beecher, Will Co., IL
   Married (1)
   Mr. Shiek
   Married (2)
   Charles Wellner
   Died Marianna, FL

   Amanda was engaged to Louise Hunte, brother of Fred. He studied to be a MD but contracted tuberculosis. When he went to Texas for his health, she went along (thus was shunned by most family members). She brought his body back to Illinois for burial. Amanda and Charles married and lived in DeRyter, NY then retired to Mariana, Florida. She had no children - 3 step-sons.

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