Alene Brehm Waneck

Alene Waneck’s journey on earth ended on April 16, 2023, at the age of 70. She was born on the morning of December 28, 1952. She was the third child of Ann Marie Jupe and Ollie Brehm. Alene was the first daughter in three generations of the Louis Brehm Family. Alene and her siblings (Larry, Gene and Karen) were raised in a 1920-vintage farmhouse built by her grandparents, Ollie and Lillie Noll Brehm. It was located just southeast of San Antonio “In the country.” Her unique childhood experiences included plucking the feathers off the fresh-killed chickens, driving a tractor during the summer corn harvest, cleaning and packing eggs when the family operated a 400-hen egg farm, cleaning a dance hall and bowling lanes and chasing cows off the roads. She was educated at Holy Name Elementary, St Gerard High School and attended Our Lady of the Lake University. She was a woman of many talents and passions. She enjoyed vacations with family, quilting, an avid reader and of course the family card game “pitch”. She was very involved in her family’s activities to include baseball, bowling, tennis, coronation dress making and attending horse shows. She was an animal lover and cats always had a special place in her heart. Alene was slender but strong, while bowling, she used a 16-lb bowl and had a back-swing that went high above her head. For twenty years her Daddy managed a social club. This is where she would spend many years working and playing. This is also where she would meet the Love of Her Life, Kenny Waneck a pin boy that worked at “the bowling alley”. Kenn and Alene were married on April 19, 1975 and built a house on the family property close to the households of her parents and siblings. She raised a loving family and taught them to cherish relationships as they will be an important part of life. Her two children were part of Ollie and Ann Brehm’s nine grandchildren that seemed to always be together at almost all activities. To this day, the Brehm family have continued to stay close, enjoying family events and celebrating holidays together.

In 1973, Alene and her mother Ann, established a printing operations in the garage behind the family home. In 1981, they bought property off of Highway 410 and opened 410 Printing Center. In 1982, sister, Karen, joined the business. For over 45 years, the company was the center of Alene’s professional life. “The Office” was also the center of activity for the family and continues to this day. “The Office” served as a place for the printing and photography, and the location where she would meet with her beloved clients. This also served as family rendezvous point, it would not be uncommon to see extended family, children and grandchildren hard at work and play. She was thankful and blessed to have Karen (KK), her sister, best friend, business partner, neighbor, and confidant by her side for 67 years.

Alene’s had a full and wonderful life. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Waneck, Son Matthew (Katherine Silvestrini) Waneck, daughter, Jessica (Matthew) Bynum. Her four grandchildren Aubry and Kinley Waneck, Travis and Theodore Bynum. Also surviving are siblings: Larry (Deborah Rhode) Brehm, Gene (Vicki West) Brehm and Karen (Jerry) Mainz, plus seven nieces and nephews, their spouses, and children. With Alene’s death we lose a pillar of “The Brehm Clan”. Also surviving are In-laws: Donald Waneck, Martha (Norvin Jr) Albert, Peggy (Dennis) Nace, and Mary Waneck Duelm and their extended families. Also the family would like to acknowledge her loving friends Mary Lee Hubbell, David Hubbell and Ann Bynum.