James Joseph Brinker
November 29, 1937 – August 11, 2016
Jim was born lucky #13, out of 14 children, to parents Anton and Margaret (Krey) Brinker in St. Joseph, MN. He grew up in the St. Cloud, MN area until the family was able to move to St. Paul, MN. There he attended and graduated from Johnson High School.
After graduating, Jim worked with some of his brothers at their electronics repair shop, White Bear Electronics in White Bear Lake, MN. He then began a journeyman apprenticeship with Minnesota Envelope in St. Paul. In 1960, Jim married MaryAnn W. They lived in White Bear Lake where they had four children, James Jr., Edward, Kathi and Kelli. They divorced in 1966.
Jim then married Sandra Anderson in 1967. They lived in St. Paul and then in 1970 moved to Clear Lake, WI. where they bought a farm and raised their family of four children; Shelli, Todd, Scott and Tom. They divorced in 2007.
In addition to farming, Jim was a Clear Lake school bus driver for over 30 years. He always said he ‘had’ to farm, but he ‘loved’ to haul around his ‘little darlings’. Jim was an avid Cribbage player, asking before each game “are we playing for funsies or monsies”? He loved to fish and was a great tinkerer also, able to fix just about anything. After retiring from farming in 2000, Jim spent his time being a Grandfather. He had great love and pride in watching his grandchildren grow up.
Jim passed away at his home in Clear Lake, WI.
He is preceded in death by parents, Anton and Margaret; Siblings, LeRoy, Stanley, Vernon, Elaine, Jeanette, Daniel, David, Marvin, Marlyn Mary, Donald, Robert, Marjorie and Thomas.
Jim will be greatly missed by his children: Shelli (Mike) Leverty, Todd (Nadia) Brinker, Scott (Jenny) Brinker, Tom Brinker. Grandchildren: Casey, Lexi, Kelly, Katlyn, James, Kimberly, Ian, Katie Lynn, Teri, Abby. Many nieces, nephews, and sisters-in-law.
There will be a celebration of Jim's life on Saturday, August 27, 2016 from 4 - 7 pm at the Scheuermann-Hammer Funeral Home in Clear Lake, WI.
www.clearlakefuneralhome.com
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