Eden T. Brekke (1893-1978) circa 1935 in Chicago

Sitting second from right is Eden T. Brekke (1893-1978)

Eden T. Brekke (December 22, 1893 - July 29, 1978) was the Superintendent of Parks and Alderman of the 37th Ward in Chicago.

Birth and siblings

Eden was born in 1893 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. His siblings included: Mabel Brekke (1898-1980) who married a Bowie; John Brekke; and Evelyn Brekke who married a Mackett.

Marriage and children

In 1910 Eden was working as a clerk and living at 815 North 51st in Chicago. Eden married May Danielson (1894-1986) in 1912. May was the daughter of Carrie Hansen. Together Mae and Eden had the following children: June E. Brekke (1914-1989) who married Charles N. Shaw; Donald E. Brekke (1915-1982) who died in Barrington; Fern Brekke (1918-bef1978) who married a Williams; and William E. Brekke (1922-1990). On June 05, 1917 Eden registered for the draft for World War I while living at 1010 Latrobe Avenue and he was working as a coal and ice dealer.

Career

Eden was working as the Superintendent of Parks for the City of Chicago from at least 1920. Charles Shaw writes: "Years of mismanagement and decline had left the public parks dangerous, crime infested enclaves. With over 560 parks and 24 miles of uninterrupted public lakefront, the Chicago Park District is one of the most expansive public park systems in the world. It was the pride of the city and made Chicago famous. Some of the nation’s most famous architects and planners had a hand in shaping them: Burnham, Frederick Law Olmstead who built Central Park in NYC, and later the heralded Scandinavian Jens Jensen, who worked alongside my Great-Grandfather Eden Brekke, the former 37th Ward Alderman and Commissioner of the West Chicago Park District."

Death and burial

He died in 1978 at a nursing home in Long Grove, Lake County, Illinois and was buried in Mount Emblem Cemetery in Bartlett, Illinois. His funeral notice appeared in the Chicago Tribune on July 30, 1978

References

• Chicago Tribune, July 30, 1978; Obituary, Eden Brekke

External link

• Findagrave: Eden Brekke (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=brekke&GSmid=46580804&GRid=7930268&pt=Eden%20T.%20Brekke&)