Allan Gerald Brecklin, “Big Al” and “Papa”, passed away at home in New Glarus on March 6, 2022 at the age of 78. Allan was born March 11, 1943, the son of John “Ed” and Alice Brecklin. Allan resided in Darlington for many years of his life until moving to New Glarus in 1986.

Allan graduated from Darlington High School in 1961, then attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. After college, he entered the workforce as a lineman for Rural Electric Association and also worked as an electrician for Miller Electric. Allan began his own electrical contracting business, Brecklin Electric, and operated this business for thirteen years. He then went on to work as a maintenance supervisor at the former Iroquois Foundry. Allan ultimately retired after working at the New Glarus Home for twenty-two years as the Environmental Services Supervisor.

Allan married the former Kathy Sauer on Oct. 2, 1971 in Rockton, Illinois and they were married for more than fifty years. Allan and Kathy loved to buy and restore old home. Allan was a skilled do-it-yourselfer who could do just about anything related to construction, electrical, and plumbing and Kathy provided the interior design, furnishings and finishing touches. Together, they restored a total of eight homes in Darlington, New Glarus, Monroe and Fayette.

Allan’s DIY skills were recognized and appreciated by many others as he would often be consulted to help others with their projects. He was always willing to help his kids and others with their remodeling projects. He occasionally needed to bail them out when they got too far into a project they had no business beginning, often after receiving a call of distress.

Allan had a great love for sports. He excelled at basketball in high school and also played in college. He enjoyed playing baseball and spent many years after college traveling southern Wisconsin while playing on multiple teams. Allan was an avid Badgers and Packers fan and rarely missed a game. He also attended nearly all sporting events and concerts of his kids and grandsons, Luke and Lance. He shared his love of sports through many conversations and recaps of the games with Chad, Allison, and Luke.

Allan also enjoyed playing cards and was always up for a card game with family and friends. He could often be observed across the table strategizing his next move, noting which cards had already been played, and smirking when he was about to win a hand.

Allan is survived by his wife, Kathy, his son, Chad, and daughter-in-law Jamie, and their sons, Luke and Lance, and his daughter Allison and her partner Shuaib Bulhan. He is also survived by his daughter, Staci Brecklin, and daughter Rachael Wilson, and her four children, Desirrae, Alex, Jayci, and Jaeden. Allan is further survived by his twin sister and brother-in-law, Annette and Tim McGettigan, as well as sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law John Schilling, Greg and Sheri Sauer, Frank Sauer, Polly Sauer, Dan and Peggy Clark, Ted and Lisa Sauer, Jack and Lisa Sauer, Mick and Leanne Homb, and Penny Sauer. He is also survived by many nephews and nieces.

Allan was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Alice, his siblings, Jean Lee, Nancy Homb, and Lee Brecklin, his father-in-law, Remfrey Sauer, his mother-in-law Leah Barnard and her husband, Gil, and sister-in-law Sue Schilling.

A celebration of Allan’s life will be held at the Darlington Country Club, 17098 Country Club Road in Darlington, on Saturday, April 16th from 2-5pm.