Leif Williams Brecke
June 28, 1978 – April 6, 2016
A potluck gathering will be held for Leif Brecke, 37, from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at the Greenacres Grange between Coos Bay and Coquille. Friends are encouraged to bring stories, pictures, and food to share.
Leif Brecke, an activist and community builder, was born to Vernon L. and Brenda W. Brecke up the river in Allegany, Oregon. He attended Marshfield High School and graduated from Lane Community College and University of Oregon. Leif and Sara met in 1996 and moved to Eugene in 1999. No words can express the love and support they gave to each other nor describe the life they had together for 17 years. Their shared love of family , friends, music, cooking and the outdoors keep them connected even after they separated. Last year Leif moved to Medford to live with his partner, Kay Wilde and her daughter.
Leif will be remembered as networker and a support advocate; he was always sharing ideas, books, recipes, friends, and causes. He loved hiking the ocean cliffs, kayaking rivers, researching and fact checking information, hunting for just the rights books or music. He loved his days of firefighting and the sense of community that was shared.
Friends and family spend many adventurous and memorable days rafting and camping with Leif on the Rogue, Salmon, Illinois, North Umpqua, and the Elk rivers. Fellow activists spend hours with Leif planning and sharing ways to improve the world. His activism started at a young age and continued while in college, serving as a student senator and later as the Multi-cultural Program Coordinator. More recently he was Program Coordinator at Resilient Communities Project, Social Systems Facilitator at Cascadian Resilience, and Secretary of the Bellview Grange in Ashland. His many causes were founded in his love of the environment and community.
Leif is survived by his former partner/wife Sara Shaw Brecke of Eugene Oregon; his mother, Brenda Brecke of Coos Bay; his sister Julie Brecke Johnson of North Bend; his brother Richard Brecke and his wife Megan; his grandmother, “Sally” Running Brecke, and his recent partner Kay Wilde and her daughter.
He was preceded in death by his father, Vernon L. Brecke of Coos Bay; his maternal grandparents, Ann and Billy Williams of Hebron, Md.; and his paternal grandfather, Richard “Dick” Brecke.
The family suggests memorial contributions to one of his causes, or to an environmental group or to a social justice organization. The family would also welcome support for suicide prevention.
“Without deviation from norm, progress is not possible.” Frank Zappa
Arrangements are under the direction of Coos Bay Chapel.
Obituary courtesy Leif’s mother, Brenda Brecke.
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