Obituary: Brickner, Edward Jerome
Age 83
Edward was born to Romano and Regina Brickner on September 6, 1929, in Strausburg, N. Dakota, the fourteenth of fifteen children.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, six brothers and four sisters.
He is survived by his son, Curtis (Doreen) Brickner and his daughter Lori (Greg) Svoboda, five granddaughters, Kelly (Nick) Scheel, Stacy (Ryan) Urbano, Stephanie Brickner, Jaime (Megan) Mackey and Erin Brickner.
Also four great grandchildren, Brian and Andrew Goss and Hailey and Jackson Scheel.
After an introduction arranged by Uncle Tony and Auntie Ava, and Big Bob and Max, “Goofy” married his “Darling” on December 30, 1950.
Their love and marriage lasted nearly 60 years, until Mom’s passing on June 29, 2010.
After a tour of duty in the army in Okinawa, Japan, from 1951 to 1953, Dad worked for his brother Tony as a bricklayer.
The work was grueling, but his hands were strong.
He took great pride in each job, and the homes he helped build still stand today as a testament to his dedication.
In 1968, he began working for Gonzaga University in the maintenance department.
He was later promoted to head that department, and also was foreman of the housekeeping staff.
Dad worked hard all of his life, and used to joke that “they put me to work before I was out of diapers”.
Dad loved to hunt deer and pheasants.
He and Curt would often leave at 4:00 am to go hunting, taking with them about a dozen turkey and cranberry sandwiches made by Mom.
A day spent hunting around Jack Materne’s lake property sometimes even produced a buck.
Curt’s reward was venison jerkey for spending the entire day listening to Dad sing the same song over and over.
Dad had a passion for golf and was a long-time member of the Wandermere Men’s Club.
Early on he was a regular player in the Rabbit, then the Herling Group.
Finally, it was a regular Tuesday tee time with his wife, his daughter, one of his brothers (Gene or Pius) and his great friend Scott Hess.
Dad loved all sports.
He bowled in the K of C League for many years, even earning a perfect 300 game.
Dad and Mom never missed one of Curt’s games, from football, baseball, whatever ball, from peewee league to high school.
Dad was even a baseball umpire.
His greatest love was his family.
Dad and Mom would pack up all five granddaughters in their 26-foot trailer and go on vacations.
His patience and sense of humor would shine through, and our girls will treasure those memories forever.
He was a man of many names, Honey, Dad, Papa Eddie, Grandpa, with one big heart.
We will miss you today, we will miss you tomorrow, we will love you forever.
Rest in peace, Dad.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 3:00 pm, at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home, 2203 N. Division.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Fairwood Village Assisted Living Center, 312 W. Hastings Road, or Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery.
Please visit Edward’s online tribute at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com, and leave a message of condolence.
Arrangements have been entrusted to: