John Alfred "Jack" Bremer

John Alfred "Jack" Bremer, 86, of Shelbyville passed away July 17, 2008 at Kinded Hospital in Greenwood. John was born November 10, 1921 in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. His father Clarence A. Bremer, of German descent, was born in Toledo February 2, 1896 and died September 20, 1982; he was an electrician and labor leader. John's mother, Evelyn Mary Velmure, of French-Canadian and English descent, was born in Boston, Massachusetts November 1, 1902, she had several occupations, her last being a home service advisor for the Detroit Edison Company. His parents had one other child: June Bremer Tait, who lives in Fowlerville, Michigan. John married Marian Elizabeth "Beth" McClain (each for the first time) in Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas at Shepherd Field December 28, 1944. The couple has three children, all male: Robert Jackson (born November 18, 1945 in Crockett, Texas), David Alfred (born November 22, 1947 in Ypsilanti, Michigan), and Steven Carl (born September 5, 1951), in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bremers moved to Shelbyville from Cincinnati in September 1953. Their first residence was in the old Presbyterian manse at 132 West Broadway, which adjoined the church. In December 1956 they removed to their present (March, 2002) residence at 464 Van Avenue. John was an attorney for the Legislative Services Agency (an agency of the Indiana General Assembly) from May 1, 1971 until he retired November 1, 1992. His work mostly involved drafting bills and doing legal research for legislators. He was Parliamentarian for the House of Representative during the First Session of the 1973 General Assembly, an attorney for the House of Representatives January-April, 1971, Indiana Securities Commissioner from August 1, 1969 through 1970, a sales representative for West Publishing Company (law books) from mid 1950 to July 1969, and engaged in the private practice of law in Williamston, Michigan from late 1949 to mid 1950. He is the editor of two books: Legislative Procedure in the General Assembly of the State of Indiana (1972) 194pp. and Constitution Making in Indiana, Volume IV, 1930-1960 (1978), 343 pp. In 1992, John was named the Legislative Conservationist of the year by the Indiana Wildlife Federation. He was made a member of the Council of the Sagamores of the Wabash by Govenor Evan Bayh on November 5, 1992. Except for the second grade, John received his primary and secondary education in the Toledo public schools. He graduated the University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in September, 1942 and the University of Michigan Law School with a Juris Doctor degree in February 1949. He is admitted to practice law in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and the Supreme Court of the United States and is a member of the Indiana and Shelby County Bar Associations. John enlisted in the U.S. Army Signal Corps on August 19, 1942. He served as a cryptographer in the War Department Code Center in Washington, DC in the summer and fall of 1943 until he became an Air Corps Cadet in October of that year. In June 1944 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He served in the Philippine Islands for 15 months as a cryptographic security officer where he was promoted to first lieutenant. He was separated from the Army June 28, 1946. John is a past president of the Shelbyville Rotary Club, which he joined in 1959; he is also a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. He is a former Republican precinct committeeman and twice delegate to the Republican State convention. He is a Deacon, Elder, former trustee, and former Sunday School teacher of the Shelbyville First Presbyterian Church. He is a life member and past president of the Friends of the Library, a former secretary of the Shelbyville Airport Corporation, a former member of the board of Handicapped Inc., a former member of the U.S. Civil Rights Advisory Commission for Indiana, and a former Elk. He is a life member of both the American Legions and Veterans of Foreign Wars. John was the founding father and first president of the Blue River Walking Club, chartered by the American Volkssport Association. His hobbies include reading, oil painting, writing, walking, traveling and collecting. As a couple, Beth and John are members of the Shelby County Historical Society, the Shelby Arts Council, the Shelby County Republican Club, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Indianapolis Zoo, the Indiana Historical Society, the Indiana Audubon Society, and The Nature Conservancy. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 124 E. Broadway St., Shelbyville, IN 46176 Visitation will be Tuesday, July 22 from 4 to 8 pm at Freeman Family Funeral Homes, Carmony-Ewing Chapel. Funeral services will be at First Presbyterian Church Wednesday, July 23 at 11 am.