Daniel Martin Brinkmann 1 2 3 4 5 6
- Born: 27 Sep 1940, , , WI 4 5
- Marriage (1): Barbara Jean Beicher on 15 Sep 1962 in Racine, Racine, WI 1
- Died: 23 Sep 2025, Melbourne, Brevard, FL at age 84
FamilySearch ID: LR42-BYV.
Noted events in his life were:
1. Residence: on 29 Jun 1985 in Melbourne, Brevard, FL. 7
2. Newspaper: 50 Plus Lifestyles: Brevard Musicians Have High Hopes for the New Year, 15 Jan 2003. Although it's only a month into the new year, several of Brevard County's musical groups are looking forward to reaching new heights while taking their unique stylings to various stages.
Among those acts are Steven Shene, a one-man bthe Melbourne Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America Inc., is looking forward to a delightful happening in 2003.
This time it's strictly for senior quartets, 55 plus.
Competition-toughened Happy Daze, formed in 1998, will be representing Florida at the International Midwinter Convention of the Society in Albuquerque, N.M., starting Jan. 19. There they will compete against an estimated 34 quartets from all over the country for the coveted Gold Medal award.
"We are pumped," says Al Drepperd, who sings baritone. "We are ready to go for the gold."
Other Happy Daze harmony fellows are Larry Wuensch, singing lead; Dan Brinkmann, soaring as tenor, and Erin Thomas bringing up the bass.
From the Society's list of standards, Happy Daze has chosen to sing "Up A Lazy River" and "Let the Rest of the World Go By" as their two tunes. The first is fast, the second slow. They'll be judged on presentation and music by "highly qualified judges from all over the country."
No matter whether they win or place 34th, Drepperd reminds they're in the game to provide "fun and entertainment" for their audiences.
The team's strength is almost too obvious. It's based on mutual admiration. Simply put: "We like each other," Drepperd says.
Coached and directed by New Hampshire native Duane McCarter, 33, they earned the right to represent as winners of the Seniors Quartet Competition held in Jacksonville.
That was the first competition Happy Daze entered, and Drepperd says he "had to persuade the guys to go to it. Once they won, they're all hepped up to go to the mid-winter competition now."
"Boy, when we heard backstage when they announced Happy Daze will be the Sunshine District (Florida) representative ... in Albuquerque," the attitude changed. No more reservations about taking the next step.
Fortunately, they have McCarter, a 20-year veteran, who joined the Society when he was just 13, to help them attain the barbershoppers' hard-to-achieve overtones.
"He sings all four parts, and he's very well qualified (to coach)," says Drepperd.
3. Residence: 4399 Wood Haven Dr, Melbourne, FL on 13 Dec 2009 in Melbourne, Brevard, FL. 4
4. Residence: on 27 Jul 2018 in Melbourne, Brevard, FL. 6
5. Residence: on 27 Nov 2023 in Melbourne, Brevard, FL. 8
6. Obituary: on 23 Sep 2025 in Melbourne, Brevard, FL. 9 Daniel Martin Brinkmann, Major, United States Air Force (retired), passed away peacefully at the age of 84, surrounded by his family, at his home in Melbourne, Florida, on September 23, 2025, after a brief illness.
Dan is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Barbara (Beicher); his sister, Bonnie (Gease) of Rapid City, South Dakota; and his four children: Denise Breitweiser (Jeff) of Melbourne, Brian Brinkmann (Jennifer) of Weatherford, Texas, Theresa Carney (Tim) of Melbourne, and Debbie Finsted (Charlie) of West Melbourne. He is also survived by fourteen grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by two beloved granddaughters, Jaclyn (Finsted) of West Melbourne and Sarah (Brinkmann) of Weatherford, Texas; his parents, Martin and Sylvia (Slaasted); his sister Donna (Peters) of Racine, Wisconsin; and his brother Robert Brinkmann of The Villages, Florida.
Dan enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1960, received his officer's commission in 1971, and proudly served his country for twenty-six years, retiring in 1986. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Management from San Diego State University in 1971 and a Master of Science in Logistics Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1975.
Music was one of Dan's greatest passions. In 1992, he joined the Harbor City Harmonizers, a local chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society in Melbourne. Over thirty-three years of membership, he served in numerous leadership roles, including President of the local chapter, President of the Sunshine District, and as a member of the International Board of Directors.
Dan's deep faith guided his life. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus for over fifty-five years and a devoted member of Ascension Catholic Community in Melbourne for more than four decades. He was also a proud twenty-year member of the American Legion (Post FL-0163).
A visitation gathering for Dan will be held at 10:00AM at Ascension Catholic Church, 2950 N Harbor City Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32935 with a memorial mass beginning at 11:00AM. Guests are encouraged to join the family for a reception gathering at Ascension's Fellowship Hall following the service. Dan's ashes will be laid to rest after a short service of committal with military honors at 2:30PM at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 U.S. Rte 1, Mims, FL 32754 on the same day.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the Harmony Foundation International in Dan's honor at www.harmonyfoundation.org/donate.
Daniel married Barbara Jean Beicher, daughter of Paul Stewart Beicher and Marie Catherine Duffey, on 15 Sep 1962 in Racine, Racine, WI.1 (Barbara Jean Beicher was born on 24 Sep 1940 in Racine, Racine, WI 2 4 10.)
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