Marlyn O. Brenden

Marlyn Odin “Mully” Brenden, age 80, died peacefully, surrounded by his children and his beloved wife Barbara, at Azura Memory Care on Sunday, September 20, 2015. Mully was born to Odin and Helen Brenden on September 20, 1935, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. After graduating high school, Mully attended University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Mully and Barbara Haney married on September 2, 1955, and lived in Eau Claire where they had three children, Marla, Mike, and Betsy. Mully enjoyed a long and fulfilling career in the construction industry, starting at age 13 building homes for his uncle’s company, Sneen Construction. After college, he began work in heavy and highway construction with L.G. Arnold, Inc. In 1976, he founded Brenden Construction, Inc., and shortly thereafter, with his brother and son, he founded Eau Claire Leasing. In 1992, he became the Dunn County Highway Commissioner and served in that role until his retirement in 2012. He was very active in the Wisconsin Road Builders Association and the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, serving as president for both organizations. Mully was active and involved in his community, serving in a number of capacities: member of the Jaycees and Eau Claire Golf & Country Club, two-time moderator at the First Congregational Church, president of the Bit & Spur Saddle Club, sponsor member of Ducks Unlimited, and treasurer of the Lowes Creek Watershed. Mully is survived by his wife Barbara Haney Brenden; daughter Marla (Horace) Garfield and grandchildren, Brenden and Elizabeth Garfield; son Mike (Nancy) Brenden; and daughter Betsy (Scott) Radtke and grandchildren Claire, Emma, and Lily Radtke. Also survived by sisters, Joyce (Ken) Snede, and Judy (Daryl) Kuyper; and many nieces and nephews. Mully was preceded in death by parents, Odin and Helen Brenden; brother, Daryl Brenden; and mother-in-law, Helen Haney Hull. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 23, in the chapel at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 310 Broadway Street in Eau Claire, WI. Friends are invited to join family on Thursday, September 24 for a celebration memorial service at 11 a.m., with lunch following, also at First Congregational United Church of Christ. Mully was an extraordinary man, reveled in telling stories, with a smile and twinkle in his eye, loved to laugh, traveled extensively, loved being outside skiing and trail riding, and cherished spending time with his family and friends. He lived every day of his 80 years to the fullest and will be greatly missed. The family would like to give special thanks to Azura Memory Care and St. Croix Hospice for the extraordinary and loving care they provided. Memorials can be made to First Congregational United Church of Christ, 310 Broadway Street, Eau Claire, WI 54703 or to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) to establish a college scholarship fund in Mully’s name, 1219 28th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20007.

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