Who Was Who II of Hanover, IL - Grant Home

union: Leslie Leo Nielsen, Mary Ameila (Nielsen) Frederickson, Ellen Ann (Nielsen)
Reitz, Arlan Dale Nielsen, and Bruce Lee Nielsen. They moved to Hanover in 1960 and
Jens Leo died in 1969. She later moved to Freeport and married Harry Brick on
November 24, 1971; he died July 9, 1993. Betty had worked at Micro Switch in
Freeport before she retired in 1986. Betty died May 26, 2010 and is buried in Evergreen
Cemetery.
Brigham, John C. was born September 16, 1936 in Aurora, Illinois and was the son of
Arthur and Mary (McIntyre) Brigham. He graduated from Savanna High School in
1954 and attended Aurora College. He married Linda Lou Noordhoff on July 31, 1966
in Lanark and four children were born to this union: John Brigham, Kathy (Brigham)
Sima, Chris (Brigham) Gaura, and Mary (Brigham) Schulze. John worked as a social
worker in Chicago and Carroll County, had taught biology in Thomson, was the former
owner of Carroll County TV and worked as a bank officer at the Thomson State Bank in
the Savanna office before he retired in 2001. John died July 20, 2006 and is buried in
Lost Mound Cemetery.
Brigham, Linda Lou (Noordhoff) was born September 25, 1941 in Thomson, Illinois
and was the daughter of Cornelius and Bernice (Rogers) Noordhoff. She married John
C. Brigham on July 31, 1966 in Lanark and four children were born to this union: John
Brigham, Kathy (Brigham) Sima, Chris (Brigham) Gaura, and Mary (Brigham) Schulze.
Linda died October 20, 2000 and is buried in Lost Mound Cemetery.
Bright, Darla Mathea (Larson) was born July 27, 1934 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and
was the daughter of Cyril Lloyd and Berniece (Knudson) Larson Sr. Darla graduated
from Hanover High School in 1952. She married John R. Bright on May 30, 1969 in
Savanna and this union gave her five stepchildren: Debbie (Bright) Sipe, Julie (Bright)
Handel, Susan (Bright) Balis, Danny Bright, and Steve Bright. Darla worked at the
Savanna Army Depot for a number of years. Darla was living in Savanna when she died
on July 11, 1981 and she is buried in Savanna Township Cemetery.
Brinkmeier, Dwayne “Skipper”Allen was born September 5, 1961 and was the son of
Dale E. and Elizabeth “Betty” Mae (Bousman) Brinkmeier. Skipper lived in Savanna.
He died August 27, 1990 as the result of an accidental gunshot wound and is buried in
Lost Mound Cemetery.
Brinkmeier, Elizabeth “Betty” Mae (Bousman) was born August 9, 1935 in Savanna,
Illinois and was the daughter of William “Bill” Henry and Bernice Charlette (Bailey)
Bousman. She attended Savanna area schools. Betty married Dale E. Brinkmeier on
August 8, 1951 in Mt. Carroll and five children were born to this union: Darlene K.
(Brinkmeier) Skimhorn, Ralph W. Brinkmeier, Dale W. “PeeWee” Brinkmeier, Todd E.
Brinkmeier, and Dwayne “Skipper” A. Brinkmeier. Betty worked in the Savanna area
doing factory work, tending bar, and cooking for several establishments. Betty died
September 16, 2006 and is buried in Lost Mound Cemetery.
Brokaw, Allan Vandevere was born February 26, 1912 in Stronghurst, Illinois and was
the son of Abraham Leonard and Anna (Weir) Brokaw. He was a World War II U.S.
Navy Veteran. Allan married Mildred Letitia Speer on December 9, 1944 in Hanover
and two children were born to this union: Leonard Edwin Brokaw and Louise Ann
Brokaw. He farmed for 55 years in rural Hanover. He was a dairyman until 1987, and
continued to farm until 2000 when he moved to Aurora to be near his son. Allan died
March 16, 2004 and is buried in Log Church Cemetery.
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