Robert N. Brenner
Robert Nathan Brenner, Jr.
OCEAN CITY — Colonel Robert Nathan Brenner, Jr. US. Army (Ret), age 90, died peacefully at his home on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2013.
Born in Spangler, Pa., he was the son of the late Robert N. Brenner, Sr. and Hazel Stoltz Brenner. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marian Painter Brenner, and his daughter, Sue Brenner Haslam, in 2012. He is survived by his son, Robert N. Brenner, III; daughter-in-law, Kimberley Brenner; granddaughter, Summer Brenner; and former wife, Patricia Ziegler Brenner, all of Ocean City.
Brenner had served in the United States Army during WWII and Korea. During WWII, he participated in D-Day invasion, thereafter built bridges for Patton’s tanks across the Seine and Rhine Rivers as well as surviving the Battle of the Bulge. His military career found him teaching at the School of the Americas at Ft Gulick, the Canal Zone, Panama. He was also assigned to the US Military Mission to Columbia. He worked for the Glenn L. Martin Company, now Martin Marietta in Baltimore.
From there, he accepted a position with Atlas Van Lines out of Evanston, Ind., which he retired from as their Eastern Regional Manager. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, due to a football scholarship and recognition as an All State End in 1941.
He was a member of American Legion Post #1 in Williamsport, Pa., VFW Post #8296 in Ocean City, Coalition of Veteran Advocates in Pittsburgh, Pa, a lifetime member of the Reserve Officers Association and many more veteran and civic organizations as well. He also tirelessly gave of his time and resources to many, many other organizations including working with his late son-in-law, Ron Haslam, a Vietnam veteran and many others to achieve the goal of building the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines.
Since he retired from the military, he devoted his time, his abundant energy and money to advocating mandatory funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs. This included frequent trips to Washington, DC and travel throughout Pennsylvania to advocate increased funding and to improve medical treatment for his fellow veterans. Of particular note were the dramatic changes he and others achieved regarding how the VA Health system manages the challenges presented by veterans suffering from PTSD, Alzheimer’s and Dementia. He found many ways to assist veterans who were facing life’s challenges medically, legally, and socially.
He will be best remembered by those who knew, respected and loved him for his intellect, comic whit, warmth, his laughter, his loving and giving spirit and the mischievous twinkle in his eye. His one liners included: Carpe Diem-Seize the Day!; Suit up! Show up and you have already won the day! Do your duty to God, Country, and Family, and Thank George and Martha too! Save our Republic! Pray and Vote!
A memorial service will be held on Dec. 8 at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City. Rev. Alex Ayers will officiate. Inurnment will take place in Arlington Cemetery. A donation in his memory may be made to the Salvation Army, 407 Oak St. Salisbury, Md. 21804, or Disabled American Veterans (DAV), 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, Ky. 41076, (877) I AM A VET
Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home. Letters of condolence may be sent via www.burbagefuneralhome.com
Joan W. Collins
Joan Wanda Collins
BERLIN — Joan Wanda Collins, age 61, died Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.
Born in Salisbury, she was the daughter of the late Grover Cleveland Collins Jr. and Virginia Ringler Collins. She is survived by her sister, Carole Jones and her husband Maurice of Berlin, and brother, Grover Cleveland Collins, III and his wife Debbie of Newark, and several nieces and nephews. Also surviving is her longtime friend, Bud Parks, and beloved pet cats, Sammy and Tiddy.
Joan was a graduate of Stephen Decatur High School and Salisbury University. She had been a cashier for Rayne’s Food Rite and Lowes in Salisbury, later becoming a paint pro there. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Berlin and the Delmar Alcoholics Anonymous. She was an artist who loved to paint dogs and waterfowl. Among her favorite activities were fishing and attending country music concerts.
A funeral service was held on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 11 a.m. at the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Rev. George Godfrey officiated. Interment followed in Bishopville Cemetery. A donation in her memory may be made to the Alcoholics Anonymous, 229 Main Street, Salisbury, Md. 21801, or to the Worcester County Humane Society, P.O. Box 48, Berlin, Md. 21811. Expressions of condolence may be sent to the family at www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.
Paul M. Hantske, II
Paul Myers Hantske, II
BERLIN — Paul Myers Hantske, II, age 65, died Monday Nov. 18, 2013 at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.
Born in Annapolis, he was the son of the late Paul Myers Hantske and Emily Bounds Hantske. He is survived by his former wife and mother of his children, Betty Ann Hantske. He is also survived by his daughters, Ariettie Hantske of Berlin and Nettie Hantske Widgeon of Berlin; son-in-law, Bryan Widgeon; and a grandson, Cash Bryan Widgeon.
Also surviving are two brothers, Robert Hantske of Annapolis and Jeffrey Hantske of Berlin; sister-in-law, Allison Hantske; aunt, Eileen Martindale of Halethorp, Md.; nieces, Kathryn Hantske and Amelia Hantske; and nephew, Benjamin Hantske.
Hantske had been an iron and steel worker in Manhattan and Baltimore and was a member of the Ironworkers Union.
A celebration of Life memorial service will be held on Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 at 2 p.m. at the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Friends may call one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Atlantic General Hospital, 9733 Healthway Drive, Berlin, Md. 21811. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.