Marvin D. Brinker, 51, of Seneca, Kansas, died Saturday, March 5, 2005, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in August of 2000 and had a recurrence in January of 2004.

He was born March 8, 1953, in Seneca, the son of Elmer B. and Luella Hammes Brinker. He attended Sts. Peter & Paul School in Seneca, was active in all sports, and graduated from high school in 1971. Marvin also attended Highland Community College where he played basketball. After working for Suther Building Supply as a carpenter for a year, he started work with the Seneca Wholesale Company in 1973. He began as a driver delivering pop and beer. In January 1999, he took a position as a salesman for the Wholesale. He had worked there over 30 years when he retired in March of 2004 due to his health.

On September 22, 1979, he married Kathleen “Kathy” Burdiek at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. They always lived in Seneca.

He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church and the St. Joseph Society at the church. He was an active member of the Seneca Golf Association and won club champion twice on the Seneca course. Marvin was a founder of the Nemaha Basketball Association for grade school youngsters who played on Saturday and was a coach for them. He followed his children in their sports and enjoyed attending many games. Marvin liked roses and kept a rose garden at home.

Survivors are his wife, Kathleen “Kathy”, and two sons, Brandon and Dane, all of the home; two daughters, Michelle Brinker of Houston, Texas and Ashley Brinker at St. Louis University; his mother, Luella Brinker of Seneca; three brothers, Larry Brinker of Topeka, Robert “Bob” Brinker and Steven Brinker, both of Seneca; and two sisters, Nancy Frehe and Myra Runnebaum, both of Seneca.

He was preceded in death by his father, Elmer Brinker, on February 23, 2001, and a brother, Daniel Brinker, on April 14, 1946.

Mass of Christian burial will be 9 AM Tuesday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Monday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for the Nemaha Basketball Association of Seneca, Sts. Peter & Paul Building Fund, or the Nemaha Valley High School Athletic Department, and sent in care of the family.