Harry Brenman

Harry Brenman passed away late in the night of December 14, 2016. He is survived by his daughters: Connie S. Brandau, Anne Brenman-West (both of CO) Cheryl Brenman (Sedona, AZ) and son: Philip Joseph Brenman (Arequipa, Peru), 4 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. He is predeceased by his wife: Ruth Burnell Zang (1994) and all his siblings, David and Albert Brenman, and Sheila Brenman Sagman. Harry Brenman was born in NYC and raised in Batavia, NY. He studied engineering at Perdue University and graduated in 1939. He was in ROTC while in university and very much wanted by the Army Corps of Engineers, but they couldn't take him because of his age. After taking the Civil Service exam, he was hired by the Bureau of Reclamation and moved to Denver, Colorado to work at the Denver Federal Center. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the U.S. Army began searching for him (literally) to call him to active duty. He was commissioned as a second Lieutenant in May of 1942 and sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to train in the artillery. He shipped out to Europe with 2 others on the Queen Mary. He was a scout for his artillery brigade and the commanding officer in the last weeks of the war. He volunteered to remain in England for approximately 6 months after the war, and returned to Denver sometime after his separation from active duty in March of 1946. He remained in the Army Reserves until 1976, when he retired as a Major. Mr. Brenman met and married Ruth Zang Sayre in 1949. They had a great life together, with children and grandchildren to follow, traveling within the continental US. Camping, hiking, backpacking, fishing and sailing were many of the family activities. Family vacations often included trips to dams and working Bureau of Reclamation projects. As a civil engineer his work was very much involved with bringing water power to the power grid through the transmission lines and towers he helped to design. Upon retirement from the Bureau of Reclamation, he and Ruth moved from Lakewood, Colorado into Denver. They continued traveling and skiing and camping in their retirement years and renovated the bungalow they bought in the Washington Park neighborhood. After Ruth died in 1994, Harry continued traveling with his brother, sister, and sister-in-law and all his children. He made his first trip to Israel in 2001 at the age of 83 and again at the age of 90, for a family wedding. He also took the Copper Canyon Train excursion in Mexico with a group of fellow Park Place Residents in 2006. As his health declined, Harry moved to St. Paul's Health Center, where he remained until he died. There will be a Graveside Service at 10:30 AM on Monday, January 30 at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Staging Area ""B"", 3698 South Sheridan Boulevard, Denver. Full Military Honors will be rendered by the United States Army. A Remembrance Celebration and Reception will follow at 12 Noon at the Maple Grove Park and Arbor House, 14600 West 32nd Avenue, Golden. Please share your memories of Harry and condolences with his family in the Guestbook link below.