Fred Andrew Brilke died on June 2, 2022 at the age of 91.

Fred was born May 1, 1931, to Paul Otto Brilke and Esther Caroline Toedman Brilke in the little house on the family homestead at Durand, KS, one of the first four homesteads in Woodson County. He grew up at Durand, helping his father work on automobiles, hanging out and drinking pop at the Durand Hotel, and attending the one-room country school there, which was built by his father and the neighborhood Fulhage's, Tannahill's and Stockebrand's. At the age of 10, he and the local preacher roofed the family barn. He attended Durand through the eighth grade and then attended Yates Center High School, graduating in 1949. After graduation, he went to Wichita to work at Service Auto Glass with Don Newman and a couple other YC fellows where they rented one room in a rooming house and then worked different shifts. He returned to Yates Center and in the spring/summer of 1952, opened Brilke Motor Co. and Wrecker Service which he operated until 2021. On April 3, 1955, he married Joan Leap at the Yates Center Zion Evangelical United Brethren Church; together they raised four children.

He was a member of that church, (later the United Methodist Church) and served as youth fellowship president in 1953; he also served as youth group leader, sprc member and trustee chairman among other positions; he instilled a great love for music in his children and sang in the church choir for 50 years. He loved car shows and Barber Shop quartet music, and he could turn an ordinary Sunday afternoon into a celebration with a freezer full of homemade ice cream. He provided his children with as much education as they sought and they always had a car to drive, even if said auto did not always need a key.

He was preceded in death by his parents Paul and Esther, sisters Esther Juanita (Tutti) Brilke and Dorothy Margaret Julian, and brothers-in-law C.W Julian and R. Richard Leap.

He is survived by his wife, Joan; children Karen Jesseph (Wayne), Mark Brilke (Terri), Janet Brilke (Mike) and Laura Baker (Jim), nine grandchildren: Barrett Jesseph (Jennifer), Ashly Davis (Ryan), Kodiak Brannan, Kaden Brilke, Eric Stockebrand (Michelle), Steven Stockebrand (Sabra), Paul Stockebrand, Molly Corder (TJ), and Emily Baker, and 10 great grandchildren, one sister, Thelma Welsch (Gene), sisters and brothers-in-law: Kay Leap, Jeanette Abbott (Ed), Jacquelyn Smith (Jerry), Bill Leap (Kathi), Joyce Davies (Tom), Jane Weast (Randy), and many nieces and nephews.

Fred's memorial is to the Yates Center United Methodist Church.

Memorial services will be held 10:30 A.M. Friday, July 1, 2022, at the Yates Center United Methodist Church.