JOHN BRENNAN (d. 1931)

MONOXIDE FATAL TO VALDERS MAN
JOHN BRENNAN ENDS LIFE UNDER MOTOR OF CAR
Prominent Valders Business Man, Despondent Because of Ill Health
Found Dead at Crystal Lake
Despondent because of ill health, and suffering from a nervous breakdown,
John F. Brennan, 38, former president of the village of Valders, a world
war veteran, present head of the Legion post there, and manager of the
Ford garage at Valders ended his life, shortly after eight o'clock Sunday
morning at Crystal Lake, by lying down under his car and inhaling the fumes
of the exhaust. His dead body was discovered a few minutes later by a
passing motorist, but he was beyond human aid.
Mr. Brennan, who was one of the best known men of the community, had been
at the Christel cottage at Crystal Lake most of the summer, after returning
from a sanitarium at Milwaukee. Saturday evening he had complained to his
wife and children, who were with him at the cottage that he could not sleep.
Early Sunday morning he arose and told his wife he was going for a supply
of food for the day and jumped into his coupe and was off before Mrs.
Brennan could accompany him.
Found by Motorist
Driving less than a couple of blocks from the cottage he turned the car off
the road into a clump of trees and leaving the motor running dropped to the
ground with his head pillowed near the deadly exhaust. A passing motorist,
thinking he was repairing his car called asking if he wanted help. Receiving
no reply he investigated and found Mr. Brennan under the car. He shut off the
motor and summoned aid but the Valders man was dead. The coroner was notified
but no inquest was held.
The deceased was born at Hayton, Calumet county, thirty-eight years ago and
when sixteen years of age came to Valders where he took up railroad telegraphy
and became a station operator for the Soo line there. Later he was located at
Franklin Park, Kolze and Desplaines (sic) stations for the Soo in Illinois.
In 1916 he enlisted in the navy during the World War as a radio operator and
was assigned to the Great Lakes Naval station, north of Chicago where he
remained for ten months as an instructor and later was transferred to Cambridge,
Mass., where he remained in the government service until the end of the war.
Married in 1917
While in the service he returned to Valders for a furlough and was married
there on January 2, 1917 to Tillie Christel, daughter of W.F. Christel,
prominent Valders business man. After the war Mr. Brennan became manager of
the Ford Garage and Implement Co., at Valders and was also secretary and
treasurer of the Valders-Collins Oil Co.
The deceased served for five years as president of the village retiring from
public office last spring, on account of poor health. He was also commander
of the Thompson-Burkart Post of the American Legion at Valders, which
organization will have charge of the funeral services.
Burial on Wednesday
Besides his widow the deceased is survived by three daughters, Beatrice, Dorothy
and Marilyn, two sons, John Jr. and William, all at home, three brothers, Thomas
of this city, Barney of Valders and Patrick of North Fond du Lac and four sisters,
Mrs. Thomas Billings of Ishpeming, Mich., Mrs. Charles McCully of Clarks Mills,
Rose of Valders and Catherine of Chicago.
In addition to membership in the Legion Mr. Brennan was also a member of the
Knights of Columbus. Burial will take place on Wednesday morning at 9:30 o'clock
from the St. Mary's church at Clark's Mills, with the Rev. Father Kheil
officiating. Interment will be at Evergreen cemetery in this city.
Manitowoc Herald News, Monday, August 17, 1931 P. 2
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[John Francis Brennan/d. 19 Aug. 1931/d. Elkart, WI/cause: carbon monoxide
poisoning exhaust gas of an auto]