Delbert "Del" Brehman

On Thursday, October 15, 2026, Delbert “Del” Brehman passed away at Covenant Health Fort Loudoun Medical Center in Lenoir City, TN. He was 78 years old and had resided at Premier Living Tellico Village in Loudon, TN, since 2022.

Del was born in Streator, IL, on October 21, 1947, the oldest son of Loren and Ruby (Smith) Brehman. Through the years, he often spoke fondly of his upbringing on the family farm, where he learned the value of hard work. His education began with one year in a one-room schoolhouse near the farm, followed by Grand Ridge Grade School and Streator High School. He was active in 4-H during his youth, and in high school he managed the basketball teams coached by Bill Davies. Del was also president of the SHS Senior Class of 1965.

He attended Northwestern University, where he studied political science and was a member of Chi Phi fraternity, where they kept him busy washing dishes. Following his college graduation in 1969, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he attended law school at American University and earned his Juris Doctor in 1972. He briefly practiced law there as a public defender.

Del met Kelly Mead while in Washington, D.C. The couple married (and later divorced) and moved to Chicago, where they raised five children: Megan, John, Scott, William and Henry. Del was a member of the Illinois Bar Association and practiced law in Chicago at various firms before settling into private practice. Friends and colleagues described Del as “a great lawyer” and “the best lawyer I ever met,” praising his attention to detail, genuineness, thoroughness and dependability.

Despite his many accomplishments, he humbly remained close to his farm roots, his parents and his siblings. Ever the contrarian, he was an avid White Sox fan in a house full of Cubs fans. Del enjoyed long drives with his kids, loved funny movies such as Naked Gun and L.A. Story, and appreciated classic rock, favoring Steely Dan, Tom Petty and Fleetwood Mac.

As a man and a father, Del was known for his intelligence, kindness, thoughtfulness and good-natured yet wry sense of humor. His generosity and moral support empowered all his children to explore the world as they saw fit. Del was well liked by his fellow residents in Tellico Village. Although living in Tennessee kept him physically distant from his children, they made up for it with long, meaningful phone conversations, which they all treasured. He left a lasting impression on those around him and will truly be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Del is survived by his five children: Megan Brehman (Anthony Pecos) and their son, Oliver, of Los Angeles, CA; John Brehman of Queens, NY; Scott Brehman of Chicago, IL; William Brehman of Washington, D.C.; and Henry Brehman, who is currently serving with the Peace Corps in The Gambia, Africa. Other survivors include his brother, Bruce, of Streator, IL; his sister, Janet (Robert) Holden, of Nicholasville, KY; and his aunt, Gayle Wargo, of Streator. He also leaves behind a niece, nephews, great-nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Ralph.

As per his wishes, Del was cremated, and his ashes will be spread at a future date on the family farm near Streator, IL. Arrangements were handled by Loudon Funeral Home in Loudon, TN. Memorials may be directed to the Grand Ridge Fire Department, 5 E. Main Street, Grand Ridge, IL 61325.