02/12/2026
Debra Ann Brenneman
Debra (Debbie) Ann Brenneman, 72, died on February 10, 2026, after a long and hard-fought battle with breast cancer.
Debbie was born on February 20, 1953, in Russell, Kansas, to Orval “Casey” and Velma (Kaufman) Siefers. She was the second of four children and grew up in Russell and later in Dorrance, Kansas, where she graduated from Dorrance High School. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Marymount College in Salina and devoted more than 40 years to her work as a clinical nurse.
Her patients adored her — and it wasn’t just because she was an excellent nurse. She cared for each one with skill and compassion, and, when needed, just enough gentle humor (and maybe a look) to make them feel completely understood. Debbie never saw patients as just the next appointment; she saw them as friends. Many of those “former patients” never quite stopped being hers, becoming lifelong relationships filled with check-ins, shared stories, and the occasional loving reminder that she was still keeping an eye on them.
Debbie married Greg Brenneman on July 27, 1974. Together they built a life centered on family — first in Salina and later on a farm near Niles, Kansas.
Debbie loved her husband, Greg, and her children, Jody and John, with deep affection — the kind of love that could cheer them on loudly and correct them quietly, sometimes in the very same breath. She showed them what it meant to serve others with humility and heart, teaching far more by example than by lecture. And when a lecture was necessary, Greg, Jody, and John knew it often came with pursed lips, a well-timed eye roll, and a level of directness that left absolutely no confusion about her point… especially when it came to John’s homework.
Debbie’s greatest joy was her family — especially her granddaughters, Natalie, Emily, Leah, and Ella. She was fully present in their lives. She could spend hours playing cards on the porch in Columbia, Illinois, with Ella and Leah, never in a hurry to be anywhere else. It wasn’t unusual for her to hand her credit card to Natalie and Emily with a simple, “Go shopping,” trusting them completely and delighting in every story that came home with the bags. She taught all four girls how to cook and bake — especially donuts, chocolate cake, and marshmallows — making sure the kitchen was as full of laughter as it was of flour. She took them on adventures to Disney World, New York City, and the Magic House in St. Louis. She faithfully attended their plays, swim meets, volleyball games, and soccer matches. Debbie made personalized birthday shirts and, of course, more than one personalized quilt for each of them. Her love for her granddaughters was unmistakable — and it lives on in each of them.
Debbie loved to travel, especially when it meant heading off with her sisters. Those trips were filled with long conversations and just enough mischief to keep things interesting. The bond she shared with Susan, Bill, and Mary Kay was strong and enduring — built over a lifetime of teasing, storytelling, and showing up for one another. And while it was well known that Grandma Kaufman had a particular soft spot for Debbie — something her siblings accepted with good-natured protest — there was never any real rivalry. Debbie may have been Grandma’s favorite, but she was equally blessed with siblings who loved her fiercely and never let her forget it.
She also loved quilting with her friends, and those multi-day quilting retreats were among her happiest times. Whether a great deal of actual quilting happened remains up for debate — the sewing machines were often outpaced by laughter. Those retreats were filled with long conversations, good food, maybe a drink or two, and storytelling that only improved as the evening went on. Fat quarters and jelly rolls were certainly involved — but more than anything, those days were stitched together with friendship and love.
Debbie was a devoted member of the Women’s Group at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. She and her friends worked tirelessly to raise scholarship funds by baking and selling favorites like bierocks and cinnamon rolls — recipes perfected through patience and plenty of shared laughter in the kitchen. They also faithfully prepared and served funeral dinners, quietly caring for grieving families during some of their hardest days. Debbie believed deeply that food, fellowship, and faithful presence were powerful ways to love people well.
Her commitment to Salina Shares reflected that same heart for service. She believed in showing up and giving what she could — not for recognition, but because it was simply the right thing to do. Even as her body was failing her, she was adamant about helping prepare the Thanksgiving meal for the Salina Shares community. That determination captured Debbie’s spirit perfectly. She believed small acts of kindness could restore dignity and hope — and she lived that belief.
Debbie is survived by her husband, Greg Brenneman of the home near Niles; son John (Stacia) Brenneman of Salina; daughter Jody (Tim) McClelland of Columbia, Illinois; four granddaughters, Natalie and Emily Brenneman, and Leah and Ella McClelland; her siblings Susan Thielen of Dorrance, Bill (Julie) Siefers of Plainville, and Mary Kay (Nancy Bolsen) Siefers of Manhattan; a very special aunt, Joan Weigel of Russell; sister-in-law Tonya Brenneman of Dallas, and brother-in-law Tom Brenneman, Niles. Debbie was preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law Joe Thielen.
All services for Debbie will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 1000 Burr Oak Lane, Salina. The family will greet friends during a visitation from 4–6 p.m., Sunday, February 15.
A Mass of Christian Burial with Father Keith Weber officiating will be held Monday, February 16, at 11:00 a.m., preceded by a rosary at 10:00 a.m. The family invites all of Debbie’s friends to join them for lunch immediately following the Mass in the parish hall — because we all know Debbie would want us spending time together, laughing and telling stories. A private family burial will take place later that day at All Saints Catholic Cemetery in Salina.
Memorial contributions may be made to Salina Shares or the Women’s Group at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.
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