KATHLEEN, Fla. – John Brinkman, a Mensan, was taken from us Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, due to heart failure. John was born May 19, 1943, in Limestone, to Clarence and Kathleen (Harmon) Brinkman.
John was a graduate of Limestone High School and played tenor sax in the marching band. He then joined the U.S. Navy and served his country as a cryptographer for four years in Key West, Fla., and Cuba. He met and married Trudy Lorith in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and they had two sons, Michael and Steven. He was employed by BellSouth for 32 years in the Miami, Fla., area. In 1982, he met and married fellow Mensan Chris Stempien and they became a blended family. After retirement in 1999 they moved to Kathleen, Fla., where John enjoyed traveling to his summer home in Lubec; and his life revolved around traveling with Chris to visit grandchildren in Virginia and California. He relished participating in activities of Broward Mensa for 30 years, serving two terms as LocSec and Central Florida Mensa, and was a proud member of Limestone Lodge AF & AM for 45 years.
John was an awesome “Grumpy” to Christopher Stempien of Virginia, Joe and Kirk Stempien of California, Jenifer and Sarah of North Lauderdale, Fla., and Little John “J.D.,” who resided with the family in Kathleen, Fla., and was the apple of his Grumpy’s eye. John is survived by his loving wife of 29 years, Chris; mother, Kathleen; son, Steven; stepsons, Todd and Marie and Paul and Donna Stempien; six grandchildren; brothers, Herbert and James; and sisters, Mary Saunders and Donna Twombly.
Final arrangements were handled by The Casket Store, Lakeland, Fla. Interment will be at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Fla.