Alice Brennecka

Alice Brennecka, 91, of Harvard passed away at Aurora Lakeland Hospital in Elkhorn on Saturday, March 2, 2024 surrounded by her loved ones.  

She was born on April 24, 1932 in Harvard to John and Edna (Pockrandt) Reese.

On December 6, 1952, she married her beloved husband, Raymond Brennecka, in Harvard.

Alice was a lifelong resident of Harvard and devoted much of her life to local causes. She was a 70-year member of Trinity Lutheran Church including as an area leader for 15 years, and a Sunday School teacher for 17. She held positions at both Admiral Corporation, as well as Harvard Farms for over 20 years.

She was a woman of many talents, especially when it came to music. She taught herself to play the harmonica, organ, and accordion. She took great pride in her yard, and always looked forward to the springtime when she could start planting flowers and displaying her hanging baskets. She enjoyed feeding and watching the birds and other animals that came to visit.  

Alice was a natural caretaker. She was a woman of great faith and showed her love of Jesus through her acts of kindness to others. She cared for friends and many family members when they were in need, often putting others’ needs before her own.

She also enjoyed traveling to Minnesota to visit family. Alice loved to tell jokes and enjoyed a good laugh. She treasured the time spent with her family including her grand and great-grandchildren. Her sense of humor and kind heart will be greatly missed.

Alice is survived by her son Russell (Bridget) Brennecka, grandchildren Jackie (Chris) Fiegel, Clayton (Sarah) Brennecka, Ashley (David Zapata) Kleinsmith, great-grandchildren Pieper, Aiden, Miles, Ava, Addelaide, Ryder, Jackson, and Hunter, sister Trudy Walter, former daughter-in-law and mother of her grandchildren Debbie Ackland, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents John and Edna, husband Raymond, and siblings Bertha Peterson, Dorothy Sternberg, Elsie Dacy, Herman Reese, Lester Reese, Raymond Reese, Seymour Reese, Grace Lehman, Gladys Grashel, Paul Reese, and Nancy Firn, as well as her special companions RC and John.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 7 from 3 to 7 PM at Saunders and McFarlin Funeral Home in Harvard. A funeral service will take place the following day, March 8 at 11 AM at Saunders & McFarlin. Interment will occur at McHenry County Memorial Park in Woodstock. A luncheon at the Harvard Moose to follow.

Friends and family may sign the online guestbook at www.saundersmcfarlin.net

For more information, please call Saunders & McFarlin at (815) 943-5400.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Alice Brennecka, please visit our floral store.