GARNER - Garland "Brink" Brinkman, 84, of Garner died Wednesday (January 7, 2009) at Path Stone Living in Mankato, MN.

Funeral services were held 10:30 A.M., Monday at Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner with Rev. Frank Beaty. Burial was in Ell Township Cemetery in Klemme with military rites by the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit. Cataldo Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Garland Lyle Brinkman, the son of Martin and Meta (Baack) Brinkman, was born June 10, 1924, at Klemme. He graduated from Klemme High School in 1942 and continued his education at Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls on a basketball and baseball scholarship. After being in college one year, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943. Brink served with the Seabees who built airstrips, hangers and anything needed to set up a Navy base. Following his honorable discharge in 1946, he returned home and worked in Clear Lake for Duesenberg doing road construction. Eventually, he returned to Klemme working as a clerk in the post office. On June 18, 1950, he married Karna Tulp at her parent's home near Rowan. They made their home in Klemme where Brink continued working in the post office for a time before going back into road construction. In the mid 1950's Brink did work on Interstate 35 in West Des Moines and on Interstate 80 near West Branch. He also helped rebuild a runway at the Des Moines airport. In 1961, Brink began working for the Iowa State Highway Commission as a heavy equipment operator and bridge inspector. In 1962, he moved his family from Klemme to Garner. Brink retired from the Highway Commission in 1986 and moved with Karna to a condominium in Garner. He enjoyed his family, reading, fishing and watching sports.

He was a member of Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church where he served on the church consistory, was a Sunday School Superintendent and was instrumental in helping set up the Henschen Scholarship Fund. He also was a member of the Garner VFW and American Legion.

He is survived by his two daughters, Valerie (Dr. Gordon Kaplan) Brinkman-Kaplan of Ft. Worth, TX and Laurel Garvin of Mankato, MN; six grandchildren, Ryan Niemi, Erin (Dan White) Niemi and their son, Braydon, Brendan (Nichelle) Niemi and their son, Dylan, Miranda Kaplan, Weston Garvin and Taylor Garvin; three sisters-in-law, Alice Brinkman of Klemme, Ina Brinkman of Ventura and Lois Brinkman of Sheffield; a brother-in-law, Howard (Esther) Tulp of Goodell; many nieces and nephews; and great nieces and great nephews.

Brink was preceded in death by his wife, Karna, Nov. 1, 2007; his parents; a son-in-law, Brian Garvin; and brothers, Leo, Ronald, Merlin and Martin, Jr. Brinkman. ... Read More