Neil H. Brennan

Neil Herman Brennan, 89, of Traverse City and formerly of Manistee passed away July 1, 2012 after a short illness.

Neil is survived by his wife, Merrie G. Brennan, and two sons, Paul and his wife Arlene (Roskoski) Brennan of Torch River, MI, and Thomas and his wife Linda (Stokesbury) Brennan of Lansing, MI. He was preceded in death by his parents, his infant twin brother, Fredrick, and a brother William Thomas Brennan.

The son of William and Helen (Strough) Brennan, Neil was born in Wakefield, Michigan, on August 18, 1922. He enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1942 after after two years of college, and was an 8th Air Force bomber crewman on B17's during World War II. Neil was a POW in Stalag 17B for seventeen months after being shot down in 1943 over Bremen, Germany.

Neil met and married the former Merrie Geldhof after the war while both were students at Western Michigan University. Neil went on to earn his master's degree in education from the University of Michigan. In Charlotte and later in Manistee, Neil was a teacher, guidance counselor, high school principal, and assistant superintendent. He retired in 1985, and subsequently spent summers at the family cottage on Torch River, Michigan, and wintered in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Active in numerous civic organizations, Neil also served on many boards during his professional career including the Salvation Army, the Lions Club and FIVECAP.

Cremation has taken place and private services will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in Neil's memory be made to the Manistee High School Scholarship Fund or the Salvation Army.