April 11, 1932 - October 13, 2022
A life spent confronting sorrow, caring for others in their greatest times of need and creating a faith-filled home ended when Elinore Kasper Brecht joined the many angels of her life on Oct. 13, 2022.
Elinore Kasper was the last of six children born on a farmstead outside Golden Valley, N.D., to Ukrainian immigrants August and Amalia Kasper. She recalled sleeping in the barn loft on warm summer nights, and how a single stove warmed the house during cold prairie winters.
August passed in 1938 followed by Amelia in 1941, leaving 9-year-old Elinore in the care of relatives in Bismarck. She learned the pain of loss but also the strength of faith and how to rely on herself.
She attended a boarding school in Dickinson, where she completed a year of college and was assigned to teach younger students. But Elinore made frequent visits to Golden Valley, where she often encountered Keith Cornelius “KC” Brecht, who had been born on a farm 7 miles from the Kasper farm.
By 1951, she was working as a switchboard operator in Tacoma, Wash. That’s where Keith’s frequent letters, mailed from Korea where he served in the Navy, found her. Upon his discharge, Keith joined his mother in Lodi and the correspondence continued. Soon, Elinore arrived in Lodi on a bus from Tacoma, moving in with Keith’s Aunt Norene. Soon enough, Elinore and KC were married.
While Elinore worked in banking, Keith found his calling with the Stockton Fire Department. They moved to a home east of the University of the Pacific, where KC’s brother Jim was a frequent guest.
Tammy, Elinore and KC’s only child, arrived in 1961. She was Elinore’s everlasting project. She never missed one of Tammy’s St. Mary’s performances (under the inspired direction of Joan Topp), and every Sunday she and KC would accompany Tammy to St. Luke’s, where she played the organ. Their lives revolved around church, school and the fire department.
Each summer, KC, Elinore and Tammy drove to North Dakota to spend weeks working on family farms, fishing, celebrating and renewing family bonds. They often stayed with Deen and Leona Brecht, and later at the home of Deen and Darlene Brecht and their children David, Dawn and Dustin. Sometimes they would help make repairs on the old Brecht farm with help from nieces and nephews Deen, Danny, Bonnie and Lee John.
Throughout her life, Elinore responded when others were in need. When refugees began to arrive from Vietnam, she worked with a church group to ensure they were fed, clothed and had clean lodging.
When niece Bonnie Stern contracted breast cancer, Elinore flew to North Dakota to care for Bonnie’s sons Casey and John and her husband Myron.
It was through Bonnie, Elinore often said, that she learned to believe in angels. When John was married, it was his Aunt Elinore he asked to accompany him down the aisle.
Luann Hyde helped Tammy find a job at the Stockton Record where she met reporter Mike Dunbar. They were married in 1985, and Elinore’s first grandchild – Maggie Amalia – was born in 1989. William Shelby Brecht Dunbar followed in 1991, providing Elinore two new projects.
KC and Elinore were season-ticket holders for UOP basketball, often attending with John and Debbie Agello – who continued to take Elinore to games after KC’s death in 2014. During that time, Elinore got a call almost every day from Elouise Schneider – “just to check in” on her close friend.
Years ago, she chose her pall bearers – all women, because she knew the strength of women. Most are gone now, but she wanted Elouise, Darlene and Debbie to help carry her into the next life.
Elinore was preceded in death by her parents, husband Keith, and brothers Jake and Tony and sisters Frieda, Erna, June and Billie. She will be buried, with the remains of Keith wrapped in her arms, at Cherokee Memorial Park in Lodi. A service will be conducted Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. at the Cherokee Park’s Vineyard chapel.
Elinore Kasper Brecht withstood enormous hardships but emerged with an everlasting faith in God and a devotion to helping others. She expressed that love through unflinching and clear-eyed service and devotion. She loved deeply and was deeply loved.