Brenneman, Donald Lee (1945-1949)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Sep 8 p. 1

Birth date: 1945 Jun 4

text of obituary:

DOCTOR AND FAMILY IN AUTO ACCIDENT, SMALL SON KILLED

Word has been received here of the tragic auto accident south of Elkhart, Ind. which claimed the life of little Donald Brennemen [sic Brenneman], 4, son of Dr. and Mrs. Paul Brennemen [sic Brenneman]. According to the report to relatives here, Mrs. Brennemen [sic Brenneman] was driving the car when it went out of control and overturned twice.

The Brennemens [sic Brennemans] had visited relatives at Hesston on Sunday, Aug. 28, after a vacation trip to Canada and Oregon, and were en route to their home at Doylestown, Pa. Dr. Brennemen [sic] only recently completed his internship.

Funeral services for the child were scheduled for Sept. 2 at Doylestown.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Sep 15 p. 3, 6

text of obituary:

DONALD LEE BRENNEMAN

Donald Lee Brenneman, son of Dr. Paul & Grace (Bergey) Brenneman was born in Philadelphia, Pa. on June 4, 1945, met sudden death in an automobile accident near Warsaw, Indiana, on August 30, 1949, aged four years, two months and 27 days.

The family was returning home to Doylestown, Pa. from an extended tour through the west, including Alberta, Canada, the former home of Dr. Brenneman, and other western states, visiting relatives and friends. The accident occurred about 5 o'clock in the evening when Mrs. Brenneman lost control of the car as she ran off the highway onto the rain-softened berm while trying to pass a large truck going the same direction. As she turned the car back on to the pavement it began to swerve and upset, rolling over at least twice. Donald was thrown from the car and died almost instantly. The Brennemans and the other son were still in the car, sustaining only minor injuries.

Surviving are his parents, one younger brother William Paul, his paternal grandmother (Mrs. Jacob Brenneman, Hesston, Kans.), his maternal grandparents (Oliver and Elizabeth Ruth Bergey, Doylestown, Pa.), and many other relatives and friends.

His body was brought from Warsaw by train and funeral services were held at the Doylestown Mennonite church, Doylestown, Pa. on Sept. 2, 1949, with Joseph Gross and Silas Graybill officiating. Text was Mark 10: 14b, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." Burial was made in the near-by cemetery.