John Brinkman

H. John Brinkman, 78, of Unionville, Missouri, passed away at the Putnam County Memorial Hospital on Saturday, December 9, 2023.

Harry John Brinkman, Jr. was born in East St. Louis, Illinois, on September 5, 1945, the son of Harry John Brinkman, Sr., and Rosa Irene (Fierce) Brinkman.  The family moved to East Carondelet, Illinois, when John was two years old and John was raised on a farm there, graduating from Columbia (Illinois) High School.  He soon entered the full-time ministry as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses while also working as a refuse collector.  He married Coleen Casady in Belleville, Illinois, on January 25, 1975.  After moving to Unionville in 1986, they were blessed with a son, Jonathan.  John continued in the ministry as an elder with the Centerville (Iowa) Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  He operated a custodial service and drove a school bus for Putnam County R-1 Schools.  John began serving as the caretaker of the Unionville Cemetery in 1990 and was elected secretary-treasurer in 1992.  He was still serving as sexton of the cemetery at the time of his passing.  John transferred his service as an elder to the Kirksville Kingdom Hall in 2001.

John enjoyed model railroading, at one time having a whole room dedicated to this hobby.  He and his family also enjoyed traveling and counted Australia, New Zealand, Canada, New York, and Colorado among their destinations.  They enjoyed camping at some of those locations. John also liked to watch old movies from the 1930’s and 1940’s. He also enjoyed attending the yearly conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses with his family being able to volunteer his services. He will be well remembered as a man of service by those in the congregations he was able to serve, and those in the community.

John is survived by his wife, Coleen, of the home and a son, Jonathan, also of the home.  He is also survived by a sister, Rosa (Floyd) Tapia, of East Carondelet, Illinois; a nephew, Joel Tapia; and a niece, Danielle Tapia.  Other survivors include a mother-in-law, Velma Casady; three sisters-in-law, Sheila (Doug) Tucker, Davina (Steve) Hyatt, and Sharon Casady; two brothers-in-law, Michael (Valerie) Casady and Marcus (Kari) Casady; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two nephews, Floyd Tapia, Jr., and Chad Tapia.

Memorial services for John will be held at the Kirksville Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at a later date.  Memorials may be made payable to the Unionville Cemetery Association, Putnam County R-1 Schools or the Kirksville Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses and entrusted with Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO  63565.