Connie J. Brinkmann

Connie Johanna Brinkmann, 85 of Ponca passed away Monday, December 11, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa. Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM on Friday, December 15, 2023, at Salem Lutheran Church in Ponca, Nebraska. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at the church. Burial will be at Ponca City Cemetery.

Connie was born the daughter of Glennard "Bud" and Eldean "Deno" (Birkley) Bauman on March 1, 1938 in rural Newcastle, Nebraska. She graduated from Ponca High School in 1956.

Connie worked at Ponca Dry Cleaning and then the Dixon County Courthouse in Ponca, Nebraska until she married the love of her life, Willis Alvin Brinkmann. They were married on September 10, 1961, at Salem Lutheran Church in Ponca, Nebraska. From this marriage, they had four sons: Curtis, David, Steven, and Jim. They made Ponca their home where they raised their boys. Connie kept the house in order and was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Connie was baptized into the Lutheran Church and was a strong Christian. She was an active longtime member of Salem Lutheran Church where she served on the altar guild, sang in the choir, taught Sunday school for many years and performed many behind the scenes tasks.

Memorials may be directed to Salem Lutheran Church or to the family for later distribution.

Connie loved spending time with her family and friends.  She loved when the Grandkids and Great-Grandkids would come around to visit and she enjoyed going to all of their activities and sports. One of her greatest joys was cooking and baking for her family and friends. She loved working outside tending her garden and growing beautiful flowers. She and Willis loved to camp and spent hours sitting on the porch swing, drinking coffee in the warm sunshine.

Connie is survived by her four sons, Curtis and  Renee (Buch) of Firth, NE, David of Lincoln, NE, Steven and Marni (Harder) of Ponca, NE, Grandson, Andrew Brinkmann and Jim and Kristina (Sand) of Vermillion, SD; Granddaughters, Brianna and Taylor Guenther of Waverly, NE, Kailee Brinkmann and fiancé, Colton Prince of Brookings, SD and Emma Brinkmann of Sioux Falls, SD and; Great-Granddaughters, Finley, Hazel, and Olive Guenther; Brother, Garry and Barb Bauman of Ponca; and many relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Willis.