John Brechin

Mr. John Bryce Brechin, 93, of Irondale passed away on July 31, 2018. He was an incredible father and an even better husband. Mom was the love of his life, and he was totally dedicated to her. Dad is a Navy veteran who was wounded on D-Day, and also participated in the invasions of Southern France, Naples, and Okinawa. He loved the Navy but he loved mom more. They met when mom and some of her friends toured his ship in Brooklyn, NY. He escorted more than one lady that day but he escorted Katherine Hoffman back to her home in Newark, NJ. He said on numerous occasions that he would have remained in the Navy had he not met mom. The last seven years have been medically difficult but he continued to be kind to everyone, and he never lost his sense of humor. He was especially proud of his friends and relatives, and frequently talked about his wonderful life. Bryce is preceded in death by his loving wife, Katherine Hoffman Brechin; his parents, William Bryce Brechin and Bessie Mae Hill Brechin; his brothers, George, Rousseau, David, Thomas, and Frankie, and his sister, Joanne. He is survived by his sons, Jack Brechin (Connie), Jim Brechin (Jo), and Donald Brechin (Sheila); grandchildren, Lauren Cain (Andy), Allison Bacon (Justin), Mandi Gosnell (Andrew), and Leslie Brechin; great-grandchildren, Eleanor Katherine Cain, Caroline Elaine Bacon, and Harrison Bryce Gosnell; his sister, Jacqueline Brechin Keyser; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. There will be a memorial service at his church Irondale United Methodist Church on Sunday, August 19th. He has been a member of this church since June 1941, where he was the Sunday School Superintendent for more than 40 years. The visitation will begin at 1:00 pm and the memorial service will begin at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Irondale United Methodist Church, 400 Deering Street, Irondale, AL 35210 in dad’s memory.