John E. Brill

John was the best man at our wedding on November 9, 1952.  My husband, Bob, and John were the best of friends growing up in Lincoln on Sumner Street.  We lost touch with John for a long time, and then our friend, Larry Opper, gave us John's e-mail address.  I have corresponded with John for many years, though Bob was never computer literate and chose not to be.  However, I passed many of John's e-mails to Bob, especially those concerning the Germans from Russia articles. 

There is a Germans from Russia museum in Lincoln that houses some very interesting histories about both Bob's and John's genealogical history.  John was so interested in finding about about his ancestors and did a lot of research going as far back as five or six generations.  He wanted his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to know about their backgrounds because he felt the Brill heritage was so important.  I'm sure he has many files about that subject.  He was so interested in world affairs and history and shared that with me over the years.  I have learned so much from him and will treasure those memories as long as I live.  I will miss him so much.

I hope with all my heart that Bob and John will be playing touch football and wrestling again.  They were very special guys.

My deepest sympathy is with all of you at this trying time. 

Sincerely,

Edith M. Reitz
1608 Rockhurst Avenue
Kettering, Ohio 45420

I am sorry to learn of John passing. He was a good friend of mine.

We were school mates in high school. Then in the early 50's we again

found ours selves after graduating from university in Ohio. Spent some

times together then with Bob Reitz his friend. Then about a dozen years ago

we discovered ourselves on the Internet and been exchanging emails ever since.

Perhaps sending emails several a day at times.  We enjoyed remembering the Lincoln

neighborhood with all the friends and experiences of growing up there. We found that even his

mother was related to my wife's Giebelhaus ancestors. John would send me numerous

emails on things that interested him, current events, and about every train picture

and train videos he found on the Internet.

I will sure will miss John.

I give thanks for a great freind.

I offer my consolence to his family

Larry Opper

Raymond L. Opper

5489 So. Kearney Street

Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111-1422

Phone 303-771-2910

email rlopper@att.net

I sure would appreciate hearing from John"s family.

My deepest condolences. May these few words from the Holy Scriptures bring you comfort in your time of grief...

John 11:32-45

32 And so Mary, when she arrived where Jesus was and caught sight of him, fell at his feet, saying to him: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 Jesus, therefore, when he saw her weeping and the Jews that came with her weeping, groaned in the spirit and became troubled; 34 and he said: “Where have YOU laid him?” They said to him: “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus gave way to tears. 36 Therefore the Jews began to say: “See, what affection he used to have for him!” 37 But some of them said: “Was not this [man] that opened the eyes of the blind man able to prevent this one from dying?”

38 Hence Jesus, after groaning again within himself, came to the memorial tomb. It was, in fact, a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said: “TAKE the stone away.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to him: “Lord, by now he must smell, for it is four days.” 40 Jesus said to her: “Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Therefore they took the stone away. Now Jesus raised his eyes heavenward and said: “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 True, I knew that you always hear me; but on account of the crowd standing around I spoke, in order that they might believe that you sent me forth.” 43 And when he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice: “Laz´a·rus, come on out!” 44 The [man] that had been dead came out with his feet and hands bound with wrappings, and his countenance was bound about with a cloth. Jesus said to them: “Loose him and let him go.”

45 Therefore many of the Jews that had come to Mary and that beheld what he did put faith in him;

Please go to the following link for more information regarding the Hope expressed in this passage

http://www.watchtower.org/e/200809/article_01.htm