Obituary of Karl Brinker

Karl R. Brinker, M.D., F.R.C.P. (C), F.A.C.P., beloved husband of Mary Lynn Brinker, passed away in Brownwood, Texas on January 22, 2005 at the age of 58 years. Karl was born on August 10, 1946 in Mt. Pleasant, MI. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1968 from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. In 1972 he received his M.D., C.M. from McGill University in Montreal, QC. From 1975 to 1977 he served in the U.S. military with the Center for Disease Control in Ft. Collins, CO in conjunction with the U.S. Public Health Service. From 1977 to 1979 he served a fellowship in Nephrology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, TX. Karl worked at Methodist Medical Center and as a Clinical Associate Professor with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX for twenty years. In 2004, he took an educational sabbatical with the Division of Nephrology and Transplantation Immunology with Phillip Halloran, M.D., Ph.D. at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, AB. Karl was an avid outdoorsman who especially enjoyed dry fly fishing. He was a huge hockey fan, a proud Michigan Alumnus and a long-time youth baseball coach. Karl was a loving father, husband, brother, and friend. He was a compassionate caregiver and had a wonderful sense of humour. Besides his loving wife of thirty-four years, Mary Lynn Brinker (nee Morris), he is survived by his daughter Stephanie Kaye Brinker; his son Andrew Oberlin Brinker and his fiancÚ Andrea Kathleen Estey; a sister Linda Kaye Crawford and her husband Jack; as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents W. F. “Bill” and Anita Dian Brinker. Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Chapel of the Bells (2720 Centre Street North) on Saturday, February 5, 2005 at 2:30 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Kidney Foundation of Canada, 6007 – 1A Street S.W., Calgary, AB T2H 0G5 Telephone: (403) 255-6108, www.kidney.ca or to the Educational Institution of your choice. In living memory of Karl Brinker, a tree will be planted at Nose Creek Valley by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH. Telephone: (403) 276-2296.