Birdell "Burly" J Brellenthin

Birdell John “Burly” Brellenthin died peacefully on the evening of August 13, 2026 in his apartment at Ridgestone Terrace, Elkhorn.

Burly was born July 17,1925, in Elkhorn WI, the first child of John Albert Frederick and Norma Mae (Johnson) Brellenthin. He spent his entire life in Lake Geneva and attended local schools there. He graduated in 1943 and was the last surviving member of his class. In high school he played football and was co-captain of the team in 1942. He was a delegate to Badger Boys State in 1941, the second year it was offered.

He spent much of his time out of school at his grandparents’ farm and learned to drive a tractor at the age of 8. His love of farming lasted his entire life - after retirement he worked on the Adams farm for over 25 years. After graduation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. After training, he was assigned to a B-29 crew in the Pacific theater as a flight officer during the end of WWII. He was recalled into service in 1951 for the Korean conflict, and served one year.

He never forgot the cute dark-haired cheerleader for the Elkhorn Elks he noticed on the football field so in 1947, he married Donna Jean Eames, a registered nurse. Donna passed away in 2019 after 72 years of marriage.

Burly attended Marquette University and Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont. Upon discharge from the service, he worked for his father at Lakeside Chevrolet and Olds (later Brellenthin Chevrolet & Olds) in Lake Geneva, eventually becoming a partner and then purchasing the business when his father retired.

As a businessman he held many positions in the Oldsmobile National Dealers Council, he was elected to positions despite the fact that the dealership was the smallest in the country. He represented the Midwest at this council. The dealership received many sales awards which allowed him and Donna to travel all over the world. Family camping trips took us all over the United States and Canada and generated wonderful memories for all of us.

Burly loved Lake Geneva and served in a number of capacities: head of the Utility Commission for 30 years, single-handedly painted the entire black iron fence around the old Pioneer Cemetery in downtown Lake Geneva, and was involved in the planning and development of the Lake Geneva Historical Museum, where his military uniform is displayed. Burly was an active member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church, serving as council president three different times and overseeing the relocation and building of the current church. He was a member of the Lions Club, Hillmore Golf Club, and Warbirds.

He was a man of many interests including sports, especially football, attending both Badger and Packer games, racing cars, hunting, golf. Sailing on both soft water” and “hard water”were huge pleasures of his. He and Donna moored a sailboat in Paris Landing, Tennessee for summer sailing on the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. Ice boating was a huge part of his life as evidenced by his leadership roles in the Skeeter Iceboat Club, the International Skeeter Association and the Northwestern Ice Yachting Association. He won many races and regattas and gained fame as the sailor who ended up in the open water the most times!

Burly is survived by his son John Birdell Brellenthin, Chattanooga, TN and his wife Beth (Weakley) and his daughter Wendy Sue Erickson of Eau Claire, WI, and her husband Dan and his “second daughter” Sara Baughman and husband David.  There are five grandchildren: Rebecca Brellenthin Bates (Douglas), Stephen Brellenthin (Ashton), Joseph “Taylor” Brellenthin (Holly), Mark Erickson (Jennifer) and Adam Erickson (Chelsea). Great-grandchildren: Kathleen “Kitty” and Tallulah Bates, and John Brellenthin, Camille and Harvey Erickson and Harper, Greyson, and Laken Erickson. He is further survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death are his parents, wife Donna, sister Barbara Braden, brothers-in-law Frank Eames and Berwyn Braden, and great-nephew Luke Braden.

Funeral services are planned for Saturday August 29 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lake Geneva. Visitation at the church from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Christian funeral service at 11:00 am, followed by a luncheon also at the church. A private family burial will take place later in the day at Hazel Ridge Cemetery in Elkhorn. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Burly’s name may be given to First Evangelical Lutheran Church or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

The family deeply appreciates the tender loving care of the staff of Ridgestone Terrace and St. Croix Hospice.  

The Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Home and Crematory of Genoa City, WI is honored to serve the Brellenthin family.