John Brinkman

John Lee Brinkman, age 72, of Willmar, died unexpectedly Monday evening, May 29, at his home in Willmar.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 2, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Willmar. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, June 1, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church. www.petersonbrothers.com
John Lee Brinkman was born on March 19, 1945, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of Jakobus and Emma (Thomas) Brinkman. He grew up in Pine River and graduated from Pine River High School in 1963. In August of 1963, John began employment at Control Data Corp. During his last three years there, John worked as a Design Layout Draftsman. On July 2, 1966, John was united in marriage to Judith Kay Wiese and they lived in Minneapolis. In 1971, they moved to Litchfield where John was employed at Palms Industries. In February of 1980, John accepted the position of Purchasing Agent with the Willmar Municipal Utilities and they moved to Willmar. In January of 2007, John retired as the Power Supply Manager following 27 years of service. John and Judy enjoyed spending their winters down in Apache Junction, Arizona and camping in their fifth wheel during the summers with family and friends. John loved playing the guitar and cherished time spent with his family and friends.
He is survived by his loving wife of over 50 years, Judith of Willmar; three daughters, Kimberly (and Shawn) Cloutier of Willmar, Patty (and Brian) Breitbarth of Coon Rapids and Jodi Nyland (and fiancé, Jeremy Frank) of Lake Lillian; seven grandchildren and five sisters, Mary Ann Miller of Coon Rapids, Linda (and Tom) Gustafson of St. Joseph, Martha (and Rich) Mastbergen of Worthington, Delores Silver of Brewster and Barbara (and Marty) Steffen of Melrose, FL., besides other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, James Brinkman.

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