Fred Brenner

August Frederick “Fred” Brenner, 72, passed away on February 6, 2019 in Tijuana, Mexico after a brief struggle with an inoperable brain tumor.
Born on July 24, 1946, son of Doris and Arnold Brenner, Fred grew up in Kansas City, MO just like any other boy:

He played with his friends, tormented and was tormented by wasps, was always the first to the dinner table to get the best bits of meat and learned how to chop down trees on his grandfather’s farm. He grew into an accomplished man, participating in the 1979 and 1980 National Handicapped Ski Championships and becoming a successful systems analyst and entrepreneur.

In addition to his amazing personal achievements, Fred took his role as father seriously. Each day, he ensured his kids were awake on time, fed, energized by some upbeat music and ready to learn. After his son, Ryan, totaled his car “practicing driving in the rain”, Fred responded by signing him up for race car driving lessons.

Fred is preceded in death by his sister Anita, and he is survived by his sisters Heather and Colleen; his brother-in-law, Alan; his daughter, Ashley, and her husband, Adam; his son, August Ryan; and his many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by those who considered him a father: Brianda and her son Diego; Lidia; Luis; David; and Zayra, as well as by Irma, who considered him a husband.

The word “hero” is thrown around a lot, but Fred was a literal hero. He received a Carnegie Medal of Heroism in 1992, awarded for pulling two men from a burning car by himself, saving their lives. He even donated the medal’s cash award to a camp for special needs children. Fred was a great man.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Bloom Cemetery, Clay County, Kansas.