Carol Ann Henning Brinkmeyer, age 84, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2026, surrounded by her family. She was a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and a blessing to all who knew her. Carol’s strong faith in our Lord Jesus Christ was evident throughout her life, and she shared it with everyone she met.

Carol was born on November 15, 1941, on the homestead near Kramer, Nebraska, the daughter of the late Ben and Cora Henning. She was born and died at the Henning homestead. She was made a child of God on December 7, 1941, also at the Henning homestead.

She attended elementary school at St. John’s Lutheran school and high school in Crete, NE, and later attended Concordia Teachers College in Seward, NE, where she met her husband, Arthur Brinkmeyer. She graduated with a degree in Lutheran Education. Art and Carol were married on July 28, 1963, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Kramer, NE.

Art and Carol were assigned to teach at Lutheran schools in Evansville, IN, where they welcomed their two daughters, Laura Ann and Lynne Ann. After living there for seven years, they moved to Independence, KS, where their son, David Allen, was born.

In 1976, Carol and the family moved to St. Louis, MO, where Arthur attended Concordia Seminary to become a pastor. Carol and Art later moved to Sabetha, KS, where Art served as a Lutheran pastor. They then relocated to Seward, NE, where Carol worked at Concordia Teachers College as the events coordinator, a role she greatly enjoyed and at which she excelled. In 1984 Art accepted a call to Emmanuel Lutheran Church in York Nebraska so Carol commuted to her job at Concordia for the next 20 years.

Carol and Art retired to the homestead near Kramer, Nebraska, where they lived for 22 years until her passing.

Carol enjoyed many hobbies, including gardening, canning, and compiling genealogy books for the Henning and Brinkmeyer families, leading the church choir, leading Bible studies and was a member of ladies' aid and LWML. One of her greatest accomplishments was leading the 150th anniversary celebration of St. John Lutheran Church in Kramer, NE, her childhood church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Cora Henning; her brother, Marvin Henning and her nieces, Heather Henning and Lyn Henning Thorman.

Carol is survived by her husband, Arthur Brinkmeyer, and their three children: Laura (Jeff) Matson, Lynne (Justin) Sperko, and David Brinkmeyer. She is also survived by her eight grandchildren: Ashlyn (Emery) Brown, Brock Matson, Kelsie Kralik, Mitchel Kralik, Abigail Brinkmeyer, Joshua Brinkmeyer, Micah Brinkmeyer, and Chloe Brinkmeyer; and one great-granddaughter, Kinsley Brown.

She is also survived by her brothers Don (Judy) Henning, Roger (Mary Jo) Henning, and sister-in-law Donna Henning.

Funeral services will be held on April 10th at 10:30 am, at St. John Lutheran Church, Kramer, NE, with Rev. Maynard Toensing officiating. The service will be livestream and can be viewed via https://youtube.com/live/gV9Wzpuu8J4?feature=share.

Burial will follow at St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery. Friends and family may attend the visitation on Thursday April 9th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Kuncl Funeral Home.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Concordia University Endowment fund of Ben and Cora Henning or St. John Lutheran Church, Kramer Nebraska.

Arrangements entrusted to Kuncl Funeral Home, Crete, NE.