John G. Brenneman

John Grafton Brenneman passed away peacefully on July 11, 2026, at the age of 79.

John was born on March 15, 1947, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Clark S. Brenneman and Gertrude “Trudy” Brenneman. He grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he graduated from Central High School in 1965.

In 1967, John was drafted into the United States Army and proudly served his country with the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War. During his service, John was shot five times in combat and was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his courage and sacrifice.

Following his military service, John attended Oklahoma State University, where he earned a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. While at Oklahoma State, he met Martha Howk, and they were married in 1970. Together, they shared over 30 years of marriage and were blessed with two children, Amie and John.

John’s passion for the restaurant industry began as a teenager while working at Country Fare and eventually led him to fulfill his dream of opening The Spudder Restaurant in Tulsa in 1978.

Beyond his professional accomplishments and military service, John enjoyed working in the garden, playing poker, and watching baseball. In his later years, he enjoyed playing Bingo at Franciscan Villa and looked forward to trips to the casino with his son, John.

John had a way of telling it like it was. His quick comebacks and colorful sayings will be remembered with a smile by those who knew and loved him.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Clark and Gertrude Brenneman, and his brothers, Lee Brenneman and Clark S. Brenneman III.

He is survived by his sister, Molly Kurtz; his daughter, Amie (Glynn) Miller; his son, John (Kassi) Brenneman; and his three grandchildren, Avery Miller, Emme Dollar, and John Carter Brenneman.

The family would like to thank Franciscan Villa and the Cardiac ICU team at St. Francis for their care and compassion.

A graveside service will be held 1:00 p.m. Thursday, July 30 at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, with a reception to follow at the home of Amie and Glynn Miller.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Wounded Warrior Project in John’s name.