John K. Brackmann, 86, of West Caldwell

John K. Brackmann, 86, of West Caldwell, passed away on April 20, 2013.

Visitation will be held at the Farmer Funeral Home (45 Roseland Ave., Roseland) on Tuesday, from 5 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Caldwell on Wednesday at 11 a.m. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.farmerfuneral.com.  

Born and raised in Newark, he settled in West Caldwell and attended Grover Cleveland High School.

John attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Newark College of Engineering (NJIT). He was a professional engineer in private practice and was Executive Vice President of Alfred Crew Consulting Engineers in Ridgewood, N.J. prior to his retirement in 1992. He was with that firm for 35 years. He was chief engineer on many large water supply and wastewater projects in the New Jersey and New York area.

He was a former member of The New Jersey Consulting Engineers Council, The American Society of Civil Engineers, The American Water Works Association, The New Jersey Water Pollution Control Federation and The American Academy of Environmental Engineers.

John was also a member of the Camp Wyanokie Commission for many years and a member of the Township of West Caldwell Planning Board.

John was a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell for more than 50 years and was a Deacon and Elder of the Church. He was responsible for the Caldwell Presbyterian Church Junior Rifle team for more than 15 years and was also a Troop Committeeman for Boy Scout Troop #4 sponsored by West Caldwell Presbyterian Church for 16 years.

For the past 20 years, his hobbies included carving birds. His bird carvings included song and garden birds and waterfowl. He also worked at repairing and refinishing furniture, particularly cane and rush chair seats.

Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Alice Elizabeth Brackmann of West Caldwell; son Glenn K. Brackmann and wife Sandra Stevens Brackmann of Long Valley, N.J.; daughter Christine A. Manley and husband Don of Arlington, Virginia; son David J. Brackmann and wife Nada of Nolanville, Texas; four grandchildren, Heather K. Rich and husband Patrick of S. Hamilton, Mass; Andrew G. Brackmann and wife Emily of Long Valley, N.J.; Erik Brackmann (pre-deceased); Matthew Carroll Brackmann of Nolanville, Texas; and seven great-grandchildren: Benjamin, Grace and Emma Rich of S. Hamilton, Mass. and Amelia (pre-deceased), Margaret, Micah and William Brackmann of Long Valley, N.J.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the First Presbyterian Church of Caldwell, 326 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell, NJ 07006.