Thomas 'Steve' Brenkwitz

It is with great sadness and loving memories that the family of Stephen Brenkwitz announces his passing on Saturday, October 27, 2018, at the age of 63. He passed suddenly from heart failure while duck hunting with his son.
Stephen (“Steve”) will be lovingly remembered and survived by his wife of 35 years, Mary Anne Brenkwitz; his children, Jordanne Brenkwitz (Amateo) of Carlsbad, CA, and Thomas Trevor Brenkwitz (Jessi) of Tracy; his mother, Barbara Brenkwitz of Tracy; and his sister, Laura Kennedy (Ken) of Oakland, CA.
Steve attended New Jerusalem School, Tracy High (Class of 1973), and Delta College. His love of music and playing in school bands began at an early age. In high school, Steve was very involved in the marching and jazz bands, as he was a very accomplished trumpet player. Steve was also an apricot farmer for over 50 years at his family estate, Eden Garden, Brenkwitz Farms. A truly special and kindhearted man, he was a mentor to many, an expert woodworker, a truth seeker, a custom audio engineer, and a speaker builder. He had loved duck hunting since he was a child, going with his father at an early age. He donated his time and love of racing by working on Team Erickson, late model NASCAR in Madera and street car racing at the Altamont, winning many championships while Steve was on the team. He lived life to the fullest and had a passion for traveling the world with his wife and family and finding new amazing foods to eat. He was always rooted in caring for his garden, animals, and family. He was a jack-of-all-trades, literally self-taught through just doing, studying, or learning from many of his friends and their expertise. He will be affectionately known for always lending a helping hand to those in need.
He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas F. Brenkwitz; grandparents Tom and Inez Brenkwitz; and grandmother Lilly McConnaughey.
A funeral service in memory of Stephen will be held on Friday, November 9, at 10:00 a.m. at the Fry Memorial Chapel, 550 S. Central Ave., Tracy, CA 95376. Interment will follow at Tracy Public Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to the Stephen Brenkwitz Memorial Fund at www.gofundme.com/stephen-brenkwitz-memorial-fund. Steve’s memorial fund will support economically disadvantaged children in the musical band program at New Jerusalem School in Tracy, CA - to purchase musical instruments and pursue their musical dreams.

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