JeNeil Brehmer

In loving Memory of JeNeil Brehmer



JeNeil Leola Davis, daughter of Delores (Schaefer) and Tom Davis, was born in Pierre, South Dakota on Feb 16th, 1948. She grew up in Harrold, Highmore and Hoven, South Dakota. When she was ten years old and her sister, Donna, was 9 years old, her family moved to Hoven where Tom was the manager for Sully Buttes Telephone Cooperative. JeNeil and Donna loved sharing the many stories and adventures of growing up in small towns. JeNeil attended Hoven High School, graduating with the class of 1966. She then graduated from Presentation College in Aberdeen with a Medical Secretary Degree in 1968.

Her husband, John (Jack) Brehmer also grew up in Hoven and went to Northern State College in Aberdeen. She thought he was too wild growing up, but they started dating in 1968, got engaged before he left for Vietnam and got married in 1970 upon his return.

JeNeil accepted a Medical Secretary job at the Laboratory of Clinical Medicine in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and John joined her there and started his career with Northwestern Bell telephone company. We were transferred to Omaha in 1972, back to Sioux Falls in 1973 and back to Omaha in 1979.

JeNeil wanted to have children before her 25th birthday and our son, Jason, arrived one day before her 25th on Feb 15, 1973 in Omaha. He was born by Cesarean section, weighing in at 9 pounds, 14 ounces. The nurses joked that was big enough to play for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Our daughter, Jodi, was born in Sioux Falls on Dec 22, 1975. Being so close to Christmas, JeNeil always tried to make her birthday special as it seems we always traveled home to Hoven to visit family on her birthday. Our vacations each year were in Hoven while the kids were growing up, usually during Christmas and the 4th of July. Coming from the big city of Omaha, JeNeil would load up the van with toy or clothing requests from parents who lived in the small towns and couldn’t acquire them for Christmas. I remember the year our entire back of the van was full of Cabbage Patch Kids in their boxes. She was a modern-day Amazon delivery driver. Many happy memories were created in Hoven over the years with family and friends.

JeNeil’s Mom passed in 1981 after battling breast cancer for several years. Tom retired in 1984 and loved baseball. He enjoyed attending the College World Series and would attend almost every game each year until he passed in 2006. We had the honor of having Tom live with us for his last 2 years of life as he battled mouth cancer, having multiple surgeries in Omaha. He was a Marine, WWII Veteran, tough as nails but with a gentle heart; JeNeil often said that he was her best friend. He passed peacefully at our home under Hospice care with JeNeil and family by his side.

JeNeil (and Tom) were both “MacGuyvers”, always thinking of ways to do things better or inventing something new. Although she would always deny it, she was very creative and artistic. She did macrame in the 70s and invented a macrame stand that she had a patent attorney look into. In the 80s, she sewed ducks and geese, selling them at craft fairs and to family/friends. She had a painting business called, “A Lady’s Touch” in which John was her partner and enjoyed doing the grunt work. Using JeNeil’s proverbial green thumb, we had a successful garden spot at Boy’s Town and our kids were able to sell the produce on our street corner, along with countless Kool-Aid and Lemonade stands. She always had the perfect ratio of sugar in the mix to make it irresistible.

JeNeil always wanted to be home when the kids got home from school, so she waitressed at Romeo’s and The Garden Café to allow for that flexibility in her schedule. She also volunteered time as a homeroom parent at Harvey Oaks Grade School, assisting the teachers and students with various activities.

JeNeil and her good friend, Sherry, knew where every Bingo Hall in the Metro area was located and shared many laughs together. When the casino boats arrived, JeNeil, Tom and her good friend Betty B would enjoy going to them as well. Our neighborhood in Harvey Oaks has been filled with unforgettable friendships as we all raised our kids together or helped the next generation of kids grow up.

In 1997, JeNeil decided to get a regular gig and began working at Excel Physical Therapy in the corporate office filing and maintaining all of their customer records. She worked there for 19 years and retired in 2016. Not one to sit still for long, she embarked upon her most challenging and rewarding job of all: Granny Nanny for Jodi’s growing family. She chose to split her time with John and Jason in Omaha while following Jodi and her family to each Army duty station.

After retiring from Excel, she had her hip replaced and as soon as the Dr said she could fly, she headed to Fairbanks, Alaska to be the Granny Nanny for Jodi and Cliff’s newborn daughter, Macie, and 4-year-old daughter Madalynne (Maddie). Fort Hood, Texas was Jodi’s last duty station before she retired in 2019 after 21 years and JeNeil spent many months there after her 3rd granddaughter, Millie, who was born in Jan 2018. Jodi always credits her Mom and her sister in law, Lynne, for helping to raise her “3 littles” while she was Active Duty and Cliff flew full time.

JeNeil loved to spend time with Jodi, Cliff and her 3 granddaughters after they moved to Aurora, CO. My sister, Kathy and husband Bob and their kids and grandkids all live close by so there was always a family celebration or get together, especially when Jason and I came along for the visit.

JeNeil’s beloved sister, Donna, passed away in 2015. Two of her daughters, Traci and Tanya, live in Omaha and JeNeil became like a second Mom to them. In fact, we can see Traci’s house from ours. When JeNeil was diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2024, both Traci and Tanya were crucial in helping the family and JeNeil with everything from accompanying her to chemo treatments, keeping her company at home, running errands, and providing the best care for JeNeil from basic care, wound care and beyond. We couldn’t have done it without them.

JeNeil, Jason and I were able to make it out to Colorado at Christmastime 2024 after her chemo, surgery and radiation concluded in Dec 2024. JeNeil did extremely well, and we were optimistic that we had a good chance of having her around for many years to come. Unfortunately, it was short lived as the side effects from chemo and immunotherapy resulted in multiple emergency room trips, hospital admissions, blood transfusions and news that the cancer was now in her blood. She came home last month (April) and Tanya and Jodi took turns being at JeNeil’s side, providing nursing and comfort care. She kept her wits and humor until the very end and passed away peacefully on the morning of April 29th. She had waited for Cliff and our Granddaughters to come and spend a couple days. Maddie played the flute for her, while Macie and Millie both read their favorite magazines and books to her, as she had done for them countless times before. Cliff and the girls left on Monday and JeNeil said she was waiting until they were gone to let go. Jason, Jodi and I had one last gathering around her that evening. JeNeil told us, “No more parades” (a nod to all the friends and family that stopped by to share their love and stories), told us that she loved us and that it was her last night so this would be her last goodbye. Jodi said they had a good night together, listening to the Legends of the Fall soundtrack and various relaxing piano and violin music all night. I believe she also waited for me to be by her side Tuesday morning, and as I stepped away briefly, she took her last breath and Jodi said, “Dad, I think Mom is gone”. JeNeil knew she was ready and she passed peacefully as she always hoped she would.

JeNeil’s memory will be cherished by John, her husband of 54 years, her children: Jason Brehmer of Omaha and Jodi (Cliff) Terpenning of Aurora; her three granddaughters, Madalynne (Maddie), Macie and Millie; her sister and brother-in-law, Kathy and Bob Bitzer of Aurora, Nieces, Nephews and Grandnieces and Grandnephews. JeNeil was preceded in death by an infant Brother, Larry; her Mother (Delores) in 1981; Father (Tom) in 2006; Sister (Donna) in 2015; Brother in Law (Terry Klocker) in 2020; and Brother in Law (Duane Brehmer) in 1972.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks memorial donations be made to JeNeil’s favorite charity, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A beautiful way to pay it forward, as JeNeil always had the biggest heart and gave of herself in service to others.



JeNeil will be laid to rest at Omaha National Cemetery (14250 Schram Rd. Omaha, NE), on Friday, May 9th, 2025, at 10:00 am. Following the service, a Gathering of Family and Friends with a Reception will be held at Braman Mortuary (Millard Chapel) in Omaha, NE, from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm on the same day.

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