Obituaries

Frances E. Brenner

PORTAGE / WYOCENA –  Frances E. Brenner, age 93, of Portage, passed away on Friday, March 31, 2017 at Columbia Healthcare Center in Wyocena.

Frances was born on April 19, 1923, on the family farm, Ty Melyn, in Cambria, Wisconsin, the daughter of Richard G. and Mary H. (Jones) Williams.  She attended the one room Welsh Prairie School and graduated from Cambria High School as Valedictorian.  After graduation, Frances attended Columbia County Normal School and then taught at several one room schools;  ending her teaching in Poynette.  On April 25, 1945, she was married to Bernard Brenner at Olivet Presbyterian Church in Cambria, where she was also confirmed.  After teaching, she and Bernard started Brenner Plumbing and Heating in Portage.  After retirement, they spent many winters in Sun City, Arizona.  Frances and Bernard enjoyed many trips all over the world.  She was very proud of her Welsh Heritage.  Frances was a member of Portage Presbyterian Church.  She had a great love for her entire family.

She is survived by her children, Rhys (Laura) Brenner, Pardeeville, Mary Brenner, Frankfurt, Germany, and Kevin (Tracy Cox) Brenner, Mascotte, Florida;   her daughter-in-law, Linda Johnson, Sun Prairie;  seven grandchildren, who always called her “Nain”, which is Welsh for grandmother, Rick (Melissa) Brenner, Beth (Theron) O’Connor, Karen (Eric) Ludwig, Hal and Tenley Brown, Danielle and Cody Johnson;  seven great-grandchildren;  her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Wilfred (Evelyn) Brenner, Chippewa Falls;  her special friend, Nelda;  her church community;  other near relatives and many friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bernard, her son, Walter, and her brother, Elwyn Rhys.

Memorial services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at Portage Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. David Hankins officiating.  Inurnment will be private in Cambria Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at the church.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the entire staff at Columbia Healthcare Center for making a caring home for Frances.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to JDRF – Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, www.jdrf.org. or to the Portage Presbyterian Church.

The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.

 

Obituaries
For information please call 608 742-2126 (Portage, WI) or 608 635-2763 (Poynette, WI)