John "JB" Edward Brenner

John “JB” Edward Brenner, 78, of Whiting, Iowa, passed on December 24, 2022, at his residence.

A Celebration of Life Service will be at 1:30 P.M. Saturday, January 7,2023, at the Goslar Funeral Home Chapel, Onawa, Iowa, with Father Michael Erpelding, officiating. A live stream of the service will be posted on the Goslar Funeral Home website with JB’s obituary. A private family burial with Military Honors will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.

John was born on January 19, 1944, to Myron Ullrich Brenner and Adele (Friday) Brenner in Sioux City, Iowa.  His parents and younger brother, Ron, lived on a farm in Mapleton, Iowa.  He graduated from Maple Valley High School in 1962 and attended Creighton University before joining the Army National Guard. 

John met the love of his life, Margaret (Carter) in the mid-sixties after she moved from her home in Corner Brook, NFLD to eventually settle in Sioux City, Iowa.  On April 8, 1967 they were married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mapleton, Iowa.  To this union, two daughters were born.  The first, Lesley, was born while John was stationed at Ft. Carson, CO.  After his honorable discharge the couple returned to Iowa, where they made their home in Whiting and had their second daughter, Janine.  John worked for the Army Corp of Engineers for 35 years until his retirement in 1995.  In his younger years, when not working for the Corp, he did some farm work on the side. He was a member of the Whiting Fire Department for many years and a member of the Emery Johnson American Legion post #481 of Whiting, Iowa. At home he enjoyed taking Margaret and his girls fishing, playing catch in the yard, going to ball games, and making homebrew with his friends.  

In 1988, the couple moved from town to the country where he was happiest.  He loved being on his acreage and working, watching sports, or playing cards in his barn.  After his retirement, he drove the activity bus for the Whiting School, drove semis for local farmers, drove for Nutrien, and drove his “Little Dove” around to her Avon meetings. He loved spending time with his grandkids and enjoyed telling them stories, some of them even true. He loved when the boys from Nutrien would call and ask him to come in to tell them stories.  He spent many hours helping his daughters, sons-in-law, and grandkids with projects.  Whether it was something as small as a pinewood derby car or as big as a pergola, he had the ability to make it happen.  

John is survived by his wife, Margaret, of Whiting, Iowa; his daughters, Lesley (Phil) Hubert of Whiting, Iowa, and Janine (Dewey) Petersen of Dunlap, Iowa; his 7 grandchildren, Garrett (fiancé Bailey) Hubert of Evergreen, Colorado, Bryce Hubert of Maxwell, Iowa, Dylan Hubert of Maxwell, Iowa, Bradley Petersen of Austin, Texas, Stephanie (fiancé Aaron Kolln) Petersen of Charter Oak, Iowa, Zack Petersen of Dunlap, Iowa and Jaci Petersen of Dunlap, Iowa; one brother, Ronald (Laura) Brenner of Adel, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Myron and Adele Brenner.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in John’s name to the Whiting Fire and Rescue or to Emery Johnson American Legion Post #481 of Whiting, Iowa.

Condolences may be left online for the family at www.goslarfuneralhome.com

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