Harold Joseph Brinkman

Hemet, CA - Harold Joseph (Harry) Brinkman, 72, formerly of Ottawa, died at 12 p.m. Pacific time Thursday, October 8, 2015 in Hemet, CA.  He was born March 1, 1943 near Glandorf to the late Cornelius and Genevieve (Michel) Brinkman.   Harry married Ruth Ann Marriott Stechschulte formerly of Continental, who survives in Ottawa.

He is also survived by 3 sons: Jeff (Michele) Brinkman of Lima, Joel (Marmie) Brinkman, Jon Paul (Laura) Brinkman all of Thousand Oaks, CA; 2 granddaughters: Alexis Brinkman and Abigail Brinkman; 3 step-grandsons: Josh, Tyler and Cody Martin; 3 brothers: Mark (Ruth) Brinkman of Glandorf, Jim (Cheryl) Brinkman and Gary Brinkman all of Ottawa; 5 sisters: Ruth (Bill) Storing of Clearfield, Utah, Jane (Dave) Ripley, Judy Cuevas and Mary (Frank) Mullins all of Ottawa and Lynn (Raymie) Dieble of Carey and many nieces and nephews.   He is also preceded in death by a sister, Martha and a brother, Carl (Joyce) Brinkman.

Harry worked on family milk route after graduating from school in 1961. He was a Navy veteran.  After  he returned from the service, he worked nights at Sylvania, along with working at S&M auto shop in Glandorf.  In 1976, Harry took classes in Toledo and became an Auto Mechanics Teacher where he taught at Ottawa-Glandorf High School until 1994, when the program was discontinued.  He was also Faculty Manager in their sports programs.  He worked summers at the Verhoff Alfalfa Mill for years until moving west to work in Utah with family and his sons on golf courses: Belair, Belmont and Calabasas.  He loved working and fixing cars for others as  Harry helped  his family out financially while in the Navy and while at home.

Harry was a member of St. John The Baptist Catholic Church in Glandorf.  He was  also a member of Glandorf Volunteer Fire Dept., Auxiliary Sheriff's Dept. and Ottawa American Legion.  He enjoyed air shows, Reds Baseball, Ohio State Buckeyes, car shows and all O-G sports.  No one had more patience with kids at school and loved spending time with his grand girls known to them as " Papa".

No service is planned at this time.  Family and friends will be invited to a memorial, celebrating Harry's life, at a later date.