Obituary of Elmer Brenneman

Elmer Dennis Brenneman, age 78. Lifetime resident of the Iowa City area; died peacefully on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at Keystone Retirement Residence in North Liberty, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 2pm Friday, May 16, 2025, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service followed with burial at Memory Gardens Cemetery with military honors.  Visitation will be on Thursday from 4 to 7 pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Elmer’s honor to https://thefund.org/donate/ . To share a thought, memory or condolence please visit Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service website @ www.gayandciha.com.

Elmer was born December 21, 1946, in Iowa City the son of Emil and Daisy (Behrends) Brenneman.  He attended Iowa City High School, and graduated with his Class in 1965.  Shortly after graduation, in July of 1965, Elmer enlisted in the United States Marine Corp, where he faithfully served his country in Vietnam until July 1969 when he was honorably discharged. 

When Elmer returned from service, he was united in marriage to his soul mate and the love of his life, Marilyn S. Schropp, in the Oxford United Methodist church on August 16, 1969.  Elmer & Marilyn were later sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Elmer served as a fireman for the Iowa City Fire Department and later promoted to Battalion Chief, a role from which he retired after 28 years of service. 

He was also well known in Coralville, Iowa City and surrounding areas as a carpenter and as an accomplished mason. Elmer was so proud to carry on the name of his father’s construction and masonry business, Brenneman Builders, which he owned and operated for many years, retiring shortly after his retirement from the Iowa City Fire Department.

Elmer’s wife and children described him as a gentle, stoic, kind, stubborn, generous, courageous, patriotic and an eternally proud man.  He loved pizza, marshmallow malts, Pepsi & Snickers and puzzles. Elmer also put his heart into writing poems, for which his family will cherish forever. Nothing; however, was more important to him than his wife and children. To him, they were his entire world, and to them, he was their rock and their calm during the storm. His love and devotion for them was strong and unwavering.  He will be forever missed.

Elmer’s family includes his wife and soulmate, Marilyn; their children, Christa McMurtrey (Lonnie), Joy Lindemann (Kent), and Duane Brenneman (Kelli).  Grandchildren; Tyler McMurtrey, Ryan McMurtrey (Brenda), Madison McMurtrey, David Lindemann (Kelsey), Kelli King (Malayne), Piper Rogerson, Jaime Brenneman, Jack Rogerson, and Jude Brenneman.  Great-grandchildren, Emma, Henry Lindemann. Elmer’s siblings, Nina Nicola, JoAnn Harr (Robert), Steven Brenneman (Chu), Susan Wake, and Robert Brenneman (Nancy); sister-in-law, Virginia Brenneman.

Elmer was preceded in death by his parents, brother, E. Duane Brenneman; and sister, Beverly Brenneman.