Maurice Marshall Brehmer (1916-2004)

BREHMER, GIERKE, SCHMITZ, CADE, BELLOCK

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 6/12/2021 at 21:05:24

Maurice Marshall Brehmer of Santa Rosa, California, son of John and Alma Brehmer, died of natural causes January 26, 2004. Maurice was bom in Hartley, Iowa, October 28, 1916. He was born a twin. He and his brother Max were as one all their lives as youths. He re­ceived his education in the Hartley Public School, graduating with the Class of 1934.

He and brother Max took up the carpenter's trade early in life and took it to California where he and Max were one of the youngest journeymen to graduate from the S.F. Carpenters Union. They worked together until Max's untimely death in 1943. As a child, Maurice was a faithful member of the First Methodist Sun­day School and attended regularly.

After graduation, during the Depression years, there was not much for the boys to do, so they joined the CCC camps. Since one in a family at a time could go, Max went first and helped build many wonderful lodges, etc. at Lake Okoboji. Then Maurice took his turn with the organization. This was a government made job and they were paid thirty dollars a month, and 25 dollars was sent home to the folks and they could keep five dollars, but they brought home the five dollars to the folks, too. Maurice told the story that he and Max traded off duties each month and the authorities did not know the difference.

Coming to California in 1936, Max and Maurice went to work as car­penters and later Maurice and brother Forest formed their own construc­tion business, "Timber Construction."

Maurice's work can be seen throughout the Bay Area. He built and designed arches, or trusses for large buildings and airplane hangars. His arches are in the First United Methodist Church's Centenial Hall m Napa, Cahfornia, and also the Napa Bowling Alley in Napa, California. This type of beam is believed to be the largest of its kind, weighing 6-1/2 tons. Maurice laid out and laminated these beams in the working loft of their business.

Maurice and Frances Schmitz were married in 1958 and brought four wonderful stepchildren into the marriage. They built a beautiful new home in Santa Rosa, California and moved there in 1983.

Maurice leaves to mourn his sister, Louise Cade of Napa, California, and sister Amy Bellock and husband, Jack of Longville, Minnesota; his loving and devoted stepchildren: Joan Simmons and husband, Paul of Mill Valley, California, Micheal Schmitz of Carmel Valley, California, twins Judy Hallquist and husband, Norm of Concord, California, and Jerry Schmitz of Berkley, California. Included here are the families of these children. He leaves also 11 nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins and other relatives, many still in Hartley.

Preceding him in death are his mother and father; four brothers; and his loving wife Frances, who died in October of 2003. He still was grieving for her when he became ill himself.

Maurice was a gentle man and the best brother anyone could have. Maurice was cremated and services were held in Santa Rosa on January 31. His ashes will be returned to Hartley at a later date to be joined near his brother Max as he wished.

Hartley (Iowa) Sentinel, 5 Feb 2004, p4