William 'Bill' Daniel Brenner, 79

LEWES - William "Bill" Daniel Brenner of Lewes passed away Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007, following a heart attack. He was 79.

Bill was born in Hamilton, Ohio on Feb. 10, 1928, to Carl and Gertrude Brenner.

He graduated from Hamilton High School in 1946.

A Korean War veteran, Bill at one time found himself stationed at Fort Miles, Lewes.

Bill married Eileen Gfroerer on April 7, 1956. She predeceased him on April 28, 2002.

Bill's first job at age 16 was loading mail cars in Hamilton, for the Pennsylvania Railroad.

After a stint in the Army, he continued to work for the railroad including through its mergers as Penn Central and Conrail, retiring in 1990 as an area credit manager, assistant treasurer - cash mobilization.

At different times, Bill was a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. John the Beloved's athletic association, the Oak Orchard-Riverdale American Legion Post 28, and an usher at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Lewes.

Quietly he helped raise three sons, Michael, Daniel and Lawrence and enjoyed supporting them in all of their activities throughout his life.

In the summer of 2007, he proudly treated his family to a two-week vacation in Hawaii.

Bill is survived by three sons, Mike and his wife Anna Marie of Wilmington, Dan and his spouse Mary Lipp of Nimrod, Ore., and Larry and his wife Shawnda of Lebanon, Ind.; three grandsons; three granddaughters; and one great-grandson.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church, Del. 1, north of Five Points, Lewes, where friends may call one hour prior.

The Rev. James Hreha will be the celebrant.

Friends may also call from 6-8 p.m. Friday in Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes.

A private family entombment will be at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro.

In memory of Bill, and instead of flowers, contributions may be sent to Beebe Medical Center Building Fund, 424 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958.