Obit: Brinkman, Helen (1937 - 2009)

 
Contact: Ken
Email: ken@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Brinkman, Nikolai, Fasano, Arnett, Schmidt, Pinard, DeMars, Turpin, Johnson, Burggraf, Zinthefer

----Source: Marshfield News Herald, Marshfield, Wood Co., WI, Wed., 22 Apr. 2009

Brinkman, Helen (13 Jan. 1937 - 7 Apr. 2009)

Helen Nikolai Brinkman, 72, of Front Royal, Va., passed away Tues., April 7, 2009, at Warren Memorial Hospital.

A memorial Mass was celebrated Tues., April 14, 2009, at 11 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Front Royal conducted by the Rev. Jerome Fasano. Inurnment will be held at a later date. A reception was held at 1 p.m. at the Shenandoah Farms Volunteer Fire Dept., 6363 Howellsville Road, Front Royal.

Mrs. Brinkman was born Jan. 13, 1937, in Marshfield, daughter of the late William and Katie Zinthefer Nikolai. Helen played an instrumental role in the Apollo Program during her time with North American Aviation, from 1963 until the first lunar landing in June of 1969. She attended many of the launches and was invited to several "Splashdown" parties following the missions. Helen was the Chairman of the Warren County Electoral Board, and a member of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Warren County Republican Women's Club, Women's Club of St. John's, secretary for many years of the Warren County Republican Committee, and a life member of Shenandoah Farms (Company 6) Volunteer Fire Department.

Surviving are her husband Lawrence E. Brinkman of Front Royal; two children Jacqueline Brinkman Arnett of Tucson, Ariz., and Lawrence E. Brinkman Jr. of Louisville, Ill.; three brothers, Eugene Nikolai of Berlin, Matt Nikolai of Round Lake, Ill., and Charles Nikolai of Yuma, Ariz.; two sisters, Val Johnson of Costa Mesa, Calif., and Marian Burggraf of Marshfield; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by three sisters, Agnes Turpin, Dorothy Schmidt and Margaret Pinard; and three brothers, Paul Nikolai, Joseph Nikolai and Bernard Nikolai.

The family will receive friends Mon., April 13, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Maddox Funeral Home, with a Christian wake service to begin at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shenandoah Farms Volunteer Fire Department, 6363 Howellsville Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, ATTN: Kathleen DeMoss, Treas.

A memorial service is planned for August 2009 in the Marshfield area. Please contact Eugene Nikolai at N515 County Road XX, Berlin, WI 54923-8393 or via phone at 920-361-3498.