Gene Brinker was called to Heaven while at his home in Warren IL after short hard battle with aggressive quick growing cancer on Dec 20, 2023. He was 95 years old. Gene was born on May 11th 1928 to Clifford and Marie (Stine) Brinker of East Dubuque IL. Gene married his much beloved wife of 66 years, Joyce (Boyer) Brinker. Gene and Joyce had 2 sons. Joseph William and Kenneth Gene and lived in Warren all their married lives. Gene attended the Warren Methodist church. The Clifford Brinker family first came to Warren in the 1940s with Mother Marie and Gene's younger siblings Dale, Garry and Audrey.  Clifford and Marie lived their entire lives in Warren from then on. When Gene and Joyce married in 1946 they also established their home in Warren and lived in Warren the rest of their lives. Gene started a career in the automotive field as a mechanic working for McNett Chevrolet new and used cars in Stockton, Il. A few years later Gene and Joyce opened a automotive repair business in Warren in a shop still located on Water street behind the current Warren post office, which they appropriately named Gene's Garage. Gene and Joyce's business became quite successful very quickly as Gene's reputation as one of or possibly the best automotive repairman in the area spread. By the early 1960s, they had hired on two very qualified mechanics to help with the ever growing waiting list of customers having their vehicles repaired at "Gene's Garage". Unfortunately, Gene suffered a career ending injury as a everyday mechanic. Gene's injury would force Gene and Joyce to sell Gene's Garage and Gene to make a career change. After Gene's recovery, he sought to advance in his career in the automotive industry seeking to take full use of his automotive expertise. He quickly found employment at Confer Chevrolet new and used cars in Lena Il. After 8 years at Confer's, Gene was courted heavily by his old boss of Gene's first job, Menard McNett of McNett Chevrolet in Stockton who had just built a large new Chevrolet dealership in Stockton IL (the current Barkau dealership in Stockton) and succeeded in persuading Gene to be Service Manager there. Genes long tenure there was also a huge success. Years later when Menard McNett retried, Gene was hired by the large Mcmorhan Trucking and semi truck dealer and service in Shullsburg, WI, to establish a vast tri-state area semi tractor parts sales network which Gene did which was yet another great success. When McMorhan Trucking ended business many years later Gene was again quickly hired to manage the newly established Stockton NAPA Auto parts store which quickly became well known to be one of the top and most successful NAPA stores under Gene's automotive expertise and management. Gene would manage Stockton Napa for many years until his retirement. After Gene's retirement, Gene would remain very capable and active until just weeks before his death in many things outside of his automotive interests, but his most beloved hobby still remained automotive. Gene accomplished many complete automobile restorations starting with nothing more in most cases with a vehicle that had not run in many years and had sat outside a very long time rusting into the ground. All of these restored vehicles were shown at least once in Warren's popular car show events. Gene was very well known, admired and loved in Warren and the area and very highly thought of by all who knew him.

Gene is survived by his son Kenneth (Kay) Brinker of Warren, daughter-in-law Cindy Brinker of Warren.  Grandchildren; Carey  (Jamie) Wolff and Michael (Nicole) Brinker. Great-grandchildren Kyle (Laurel) Wolff, and Mitchell Wolff. Brother Dale, and many nieces and nephews.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, wife Joyce in 2012, son Joseph,  grandson John David Brinker, sister Audrey (Shaw)(Wilcox), and brother Garry. Gene was also preceded in death by Linda Neff who was Gene's frequent companion after his wife Joyce's death in 2012.

He will be greatly missed by many.

A private family service will be held for Gene. A Celebration of Life in Gene's memory and honor for the public is being planned in warmer weather sometime next year in 2024 and details will announced some time later.

All of Gene's family send their prayers and sincere thanks for the many condolences, love and prayers from so many.