Verna Marie (Bartels) Brinkman was born February 28, 1922 to Gustav and Johanna (Koehler) Bartels at rural Tecumseh, Nebraska.  She was baptized April 2, 1922 and confirmed May 26, 1935 at the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, rural Elk Creek, Nebraska.

She was united in marriage to Dick H. Brinkman on July 17, 1945 at the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Elk Creek.  To this union four sons were born, Arlin, Jerry, Randy and Lyle.  Dick and Verna lived in Cook and Eagle in their early years together.  They bought the farm near Cook in 1954 and lived there until retiring from farming and moving into Cook in September of 2005.  Dick and Verna joined the Grace Lutheran Church in Cook in 1965. Verna was involved with quilting and making blankets for Lutheran World Relief and also served on several committees with the Grace Lutheran Women. 

Verna worked for 19 ½ years at the Good Samaritan Center in Syracuse, Nebraska as a medication nurse.  She enjoyed helping the elderly, fishing and playing cards with friends and relatives. She especially loved baby-sitting her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Her husband Dick passed away January 25, 2011.  When her health declined, Verna became a resident of Belle Terrace in 2011.  She passed away there on November 25, 2020 at the age of 98 years.

She is survived by her sons, Arlin Brinkman and wife Judy of Cook, Jerry Brinkman and wife Jean of Cook, Randy Brinkman and wife Barbara of Rome, GA and Lyle Brinkman and wife June of Brock, grandchildren, Jodell and Greg Yank, Thomas and Lori Brinkman, Brian and Dana Brinkman, David and Brandi Brinkman, Erica and Justin Plucknett, Michaela and Mark Moser, Sarah and Tom Van Boening, Joseph and Ellen Brinkman, great-grandchildren, Brandon and Renae Sieck, Allison, Trevor and Mitchell Brinkman, Chase Brinkman, Isley, Drew and Jarrett Brinkman, Eliza, Stella and Judah Plucknett, step- grandchildren, Caroline and William Yank, Nikki and Daniel Dominey, Danielle and Garrett Bergmann, Brandon Brossard and Cameron Bergman and step-great-grandchildren, James and Joanne Dominey.

Verna was preceded in death by her husband, Dick, grandson, Todd Brinkman, brothers, Ernest Bartels and wife Susie, Theodore Bartels and wife Esther, Richard Bartels and wife Elsie and Clarence Bartels and wife Evelyn, sisters, Velma Buethe and husband Eldor, Velora Haughton and husband Ernest and Linda Kraus and husband Ken. 

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at the Grace Lutheran Church, Cook, Nebraska with Rev. Jim Helgren officiating.  Masks and social distancing will be required.  The service will be radio broadcast on FM 88.7 for those attending who chose to stay in their vehicles as well on the Wherry Mortuary/Wherry Monument Facebook page.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at the Wherry Mortuary, Tecumseh, Nebraska.

Memorials may go to the Grace Lutheran Cemetery, Cook, Nebraska.

Interment will be in the Grace Lutheran Cemetery, rural Cook, Nebraska.

Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.