Chester Dale "Chet" Brenner, 100, of Hopkins went to be with his Lord Monday, April 23, 2018 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. Born July 27, 1917 in Hopkins (Monterey), he was the son of the late David and Hallie (Wheelock) Brenner and was the husband of the late Evelyn R. (Schwartz) Brenner, who preceded him in death on May 11, 2015. Chet grew up on the family farm and attended Pickle Street School. In December of 1941 he was called up to serve his country honorably during World War II in the U.S. Army's "Lucky 7th" Armored Division, Company B as a scout. The Lucky 7th spearheaded Patton's 3rd Army. They formed on Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day and after four years overseas fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, at the Remagen Bridge and many places between, Chet returned home to the farm where he remained until moving to Briarwood three years ago. He was so proud to be a veteran and was so excited to go on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. to see the war memorials on April 25, 2015 with his son-in-law. Following their marriage on October 22, 1949, he and Evelyn bought a 100-acre farm from his parents. After a series of unfortunate events, however, Chet decided to sell off his cattle and go to work for Perrigo managing the warehouse, which came to be called "Chet's Warehouse". He stayed there for thirteen years prior to retirement while also continuing to crop farm. Chet and Evelyn were faithful lifetime members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hopkins where they had been married and both enjoyed sharing their many talents. Ice fishing and fishing trips to Canada with Evelyn and friends, playing Euchre, cracking homegrown English walnuts to give to family and friends, and spending time on his Farmall tractor were favorite pastimes of Chet even into his later years. He was a humble man and believed in honesty, integrity and loyalty; a great example to many. Mr. Brenner is survived by his children, Nancy (John) West, Janet Dell and Thomas (Kathy) Brenner; his grandchildren, Jamie Sue (Terry) Scott, April Brenner, Lee Dreyer (Gina Haynes) and Nate Dreyer; his great-grandchildren, Summer and Thomas; one sister-in-law, Glenda (Harlow) Schwartz; and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Brenner was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-five years, Evelyn; granddaughter, Jodie Housworth; his siblings and their spouses, Leah (Karl) Schwartz, Honor Geneese (Cleo) Woolf, Marvin (Ardith) Brenner and Keith (Lorraine) Brenner; and his parents. His brothers and sisters-in-law, Howard (June) Schwartz, Elwood (Eleanor) Schwartz and Harlow Schwartz also preceded him. He will be missed by his loving family and friends. It was an honor to have him in our lives. The family will receive friends at Gorden Funeral Residence, Hopkins Chapel, on Thursday, April 26, 2018 from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm. A funeral service will take place on Friday, April 27, 2018 at 11:00 am in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Hopkins. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Southwest Michigan or St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Visitation Details

Thursday, April 26th, 2018 4:00pm - 8:00pm, Gorden Funeral Residence, Hopkins Chapel

Service Information

Friday, April 27th, 2018 11:00am, St. Pauls Lutheran Church

Interment Details

Friday, April 27th, 2018 12:30pm, St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery