William Orval Brennen

William Orval Brennen passed away peacefully at Kaiser Hospital, San Rafael on March 24, 2022 from pneumonia. He was born on May 17, 1930 to Della and Orval Brennen in St. Helena, CA. William grew up in Middletown, CA. After graduating from Middletown Junior High, he attended Vallejo Senior High School and graduated in 1947.

He served in the Korean War in the Infantry as a Marine at the Chosin Reservoir North Korea in 1950. After the war was over, he was honorably discharged a Staff Sergeant.

Bill returned home and went back to school and graduated from Napa College with an Associate in Arts degree in 1955. After graduating he worked at his father’s garage on cars and motorcycles. He really liked motorcycles and decided to learn how to ride one, and bought a Harley-Davidson and rode with his buddies, which he really enjoyed.

He fell in love and was married to Marilyn Edith Teague on July 12, 1958 in Middletown, CA.

William’s passion for riding motorcycles led him on a path to joining the California Highway Patrol as a Motorcycle Peace Officer and he attended the academy in Sacramento, CA in 1962. He became a Traffic Sergeant in 1969 and worked in East Oakland. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1975 and returned to the Bay Area at the Corte Madera office until he retired from the Highway Patrol.

After his retirement he enjoyed camping, fishing and traveling with his wife and family. He liked staying fit by walking, running and lifting weights. A lot of his time was spent at the American Legion Post 313, Larkspur where was a proud member for several years and had many friends and acquaintances there.

Bill took care of his wife Marilyn for 10 years, until she passed away from Parkinson’s disease in 2011. He was a longtime resident in Larkspur, California until moving to Villa Marin Retirement Community in San Rafael, CA in 2017.

William is survived by his daughter Cheri Brennen,

son Daniel Brennen and close friend Carolyn Jacobs.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to The American Lung Association at: lung.org and click on "DONATE."

the future. MMWD is giving me whiplash.—

Beryn Hammil,

Corte Madera