Beatrice E. Brinkmann, 92, passed away at George Ade Memorial Health Care Center, Brook, Indiana on February 10, 2015.

Beatrice was born in Virgie, Indiana on January 6, 1923, the daughter of the late Ferdinand “Firnot” M. Schultz and Hilda (Steinke) Schultz.

On September 6, 1940, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, Indiana, Bea married Arthur A Brinkmann from Momence, Illinois, who preceded her in death on September 7, 1999.

She attended the Virgie and Morocco schools. Most of her life living was spent on the Brinkmann farm in Newton Township. Bea was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, was a member and officer of Ladies Aid, Altar Guild and LWML. She enjoyed being a cook at area restaurants including Trail Tree, Jefferson House and Stonewall Inn. Bea also worked at Schumacher Electric in Rensselaer, sorted seed corn for DeKalb just north of Remington, in addition to helping her belated husband, Arthur, on the farm.

Bea’s other community activities included being Democratic Precinct Coordinator for Newton Township, Jasper County; member of the Newton Township, Jasper County, Home Ec. Extension Club; and the neighborhood Bunco Club. In the 1950’s Bea enjoyed helping other mothers of the North Newton Township School put up sweet corn, tomatoes and other vegetables along with vegetable soup for the school so that the children could have a hot lunch program. Other hobbies included gardening, sewing, flowers, enjoying the birds, especially Bluebirds, and playing UNO.

Bea is survived by her three daughters: Donna Wetzel of Rensselaer, Helen (Dennis) Gombert of Burke, Virginia and Ruth Ann Brinkmann of Terre Haute, Indiana; six grandchildren: Jason Wetzel, Wanatah, Indiana, Jennifer (David) Jaskulski of Knox, Indiana, Jared Wetzel of Rensselaer, Doyle Wetzel of Texas, Greg (Amy) Gombert of Nanjing, China, and Elizabeth Gombert of New York; 10 great grandchildren; nine great-great grandchildren; one brother, Bernard (Judy) Schultz of Morocco; two sisters, Vivian Walker of Farmersburg, Indiana and Marjorie (Charles) Layhew of Big Sandy, Tennessee; and a sister-in-law, Kay Schultz of Big Sandy, Tennessee.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, Firnot and Hilda Schultz; five brothers: Gerald Schultz, Lorain Schultz, Ralph Schultz, Ferdinand Michael Schultz Jr., and Calvin Schultz; and two sisters, Evelyn Hileman and Maxine Lomax.

Friends may call on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015 from 2-6 p.m. (CST) at Steinke Funeral Home of Rensselaer. Funeral services will be held on Monday, Feb. 16, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. (CST) at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Rensselaer with Pastor Benjamin Hertel officiating. A funeral luncheon will be held in the church fellowship hall following the service. Interment will follow at Kankakee Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Kankakee, Illinois. Memorials are suggested to the St. Luke Lutheran Church Parking Lot Fund or the Jasper Foundation CDC Resources Fund. Share memories and condolences online at www.SteinkeFuneralHome.com.

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