After graduation from David Starr Jordan High School in Long Beach in 1954, Don became an expert bicycle mechanic, working at two bike shops in Long Beach. Then, on receipt of his draft notice, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served from 1956 to 1959 aboard the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Rochester and the flag ship U.S.S. St. Paul as a Fire Control Technician.
Soon after military service, Don continued his formal education. Though he received a degree in psychology from CSULA and worked for a time at LA County Juvenile Hall, he took the opportunity in 1969 to learn computer programming at State Farm Insurance Co. — back when a computer filled an entire, cold room.
Throughout his programming career he worked for State Farm, Zurich, and GEICO insurance companies.
Music and singing played a large part in Don’s life. He met Paula while they both sang in the touring choir of La Verne College in California. They were married in 1962 and continued to sing together for 63 years. [See “How to stay married for 55 years” on YouTube].
He will be missed by the friends he made at Harmony House Concerts over the last twenty-five years, where he had a special rocking chair reserved just for him. During
recent years, he spent many hours listening to music and singing along with classics from the 40s and 50s.
In 1971, Don, Paula and the boys joined a religious order of families (the Order: Ecumenical) and worked with its sister organization the Institute of Cultural Affairs— assisting communities throughout the U.S. to set up and hold Town Meeting 76 local community planning forums as part of the USA Bicentennial Celebration. The family retired from the order and moved to Irving, Texas in 1981.
The couple has lived on their little acre just north of Bonham since 1994. For several years, under the banner of ‘Brennecke Desktop Services’, Don helped folks in Fannin County with their personal computers and computer-related projects.
Don’s creative nature was always evident. He loved entertaining with tales of his past (embellished with each telling, of course). And, though never published, he left us a file full of his writing (poetry, essays, and stories) — some that he wrote as assignments when he studied, via mail, with the Famous Writers School in the 1960s.
He tinkered with a couple of useful inventions and, after retiring, enjoyed making art objects from wood and helping each of the grandchildren make treasure chests and such. He even tried his hand at photography with Paula.
Don was an inspiration in many ways — both to his sons and grandchildren and to those he sponsored in AA during his nearly 38 years of sobriety. Friends and family will remember Don for his warmth, generous spirit, great hugs, subtle humor, pleasant baritone voice — and as the undisputed family champion at horseshoes. (He was also a great baseball pitcher in high school and college.)
Don is preceded in death by his parents Chrystell Estelle (Franks) Brennecke Grein and Henry Joseph Brennecke, his step-father George Elmer Grein, his older brother John Henry (Jack) Brennecke, his half brothers Rex Henry and Larry Ray Brennecke, and by his son Richard Edward Brennecke.
He is survived by his beloved wife Paula Jones Brennecke, son Scot T Brennecke and his wife Maria Cervantes Brennecke, by his grandchildren Catherine, David, Daniel, and Justine, by his great-grandson Andrés Sebastian, by his half brothers George Otis Grein and Ronney Joe Brennecke, and by his four-footed friend Aesop.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Don’s honor to your local animal shelter.
To share a memory or condolence please visit www.coopersorrells.com
