Brenda Kay (Wernick) Flemmer

Brenda Kay Flemmer was born October 4, 1950, to Francis and Mary Sue (Huffines) Wernick in York, PA. As the daughter of a minister, the family made frequent moves during her early years, including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Mt Vernon, Ohio; Portland, Oregon, and Berrien Springs, MI. Brenda had an active creative mind and would tell exciting and entertaining stories, created plays; and taught school to her younger siblings. Brenda finished high school in 1969 at Columbia Academy in Battleground, WA.

That summer, she joined the family in Berrien Springs, MI, and enrolled as an elementary education student at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI. She and Ken met a week before her graduation in 1973. After 1 year of teaching in Lancaster, CA, she returned to Andrews Graduate School, where Ken was still a student. Brenda and Ken married June 4, 1975. Three months later, they left for Hiroshima, Japan, to teach conversational English.

For the next 49 years Brenda and Ken lived and served in Liberia, West Africa; San Luis Obispo, CA; Orange, VA (where son Nathan was born in 1983); Burtonsville, MD (Brenda taught kindergarten for 11 years at Beltsville Adventist School); and Singapore (Brenda assisted the implementation of a scholarship program for 3 years).

In 1998, Ken and Brenda moved back to Burtonsville and Brenda again took up teaching (Sligo Adventist School for 7 years) followed by 11 years at the Adventist World Headquarters as an administrative assistant at BRI, retiring in 2016. Following retirement, she volunteered at Adventist Community Services in Silver Spring, MD, teaching conversational English and organizing the ACS baby diaper “bank”.

The last 3+ years of her life, Brenda increasingly struggled with balance and mobility due to peripheral nerve damage. She met a friend for lunch on May 9th, fell ill a few days later, was admitted to the hospital on Sunday, April 13th, and took her last breath on April 14, 2025, less than 8 weeks before her 50th wedding anniversary.

She is survived by her husband Ken, son Nathan, brother Robert & Laura Wernick, sister Carolyn & David Jimenez, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and a circle of dear friends.

Her God centered, kind, and compassionate life has positively impacted hundreds of students, family, and friends. She now sleeps, waiting to hear God's resurrection trumpet call.