Johann (Hans) Brentrup

life story

Johann and Maureen are together again.

Loving husband to the late Maureen McElderry (1945-1922) builder of remarkable guitars and mandolins ... dear friend to many.

Remembering Johann ...

From his sister, Maria Lichter:

Johann Daniel (Hans) Brentrup was born February 19, 1947 to Johann (Hans) Brentrup and Agnes (Carroll) Brentrup. He was 4 years old before he met his father. Agnes, her sister Elizabeth and mother Maria had dual citizenship, and easily arrived in the US, while his father was under scrutiny, as all Germans were at that time that were married to a dually. So the father/son relationship was fraught at first, but recovered.

NOTE: Hans junior was born in Mpls. Our mother, Agnes, did not find out she was pregnant until on the boat over here, aunt and gramma were also on the boat. She lived with my aunt, Elizabeth, and gramma, Maria, until Hans senior made it over here. So Hans junior was always a Mpls native. 

Hans senior grew up and worked in Cologne, Germany, as did the Carroll women.

Hans learned woodworking from his father, Hans, who was a kind of renaissance man. The senior Hans was a master electrician by trade, but was skilled in woodworking, and many other things. The junior Hans became adept at woodworking, and excelled in school shop classes. He also excelled at mathematics. His father and he also built and flew model airplanes, the old control line type. They attended many tournaments together and came home with many awards.

After high school, Hans had his number come up in the draft for Vietnam, and he chose to enlist in the Air Force. Basic training found him unable to complete artillery training. Every time they put a gun in his hand, he shook so bad he couldn't even find the trigger. So the Air Force, in their infinite wisdom, exempted him from artillery, and stationed him in Okinawa as a supply desk jockey, where he had to fly with helicopter resupply missions to Vietnam and back. Also to pick up the wounded. He did not enjoy his stint in the military, and came home in rough shape, and did too many drugs and alcohol. He met Carol Servaty, his first wife, but the marriage ended after just a few years. 

Hans worked at  a cabinet shop during those years, and didn't enjoy the prefab things, so decided to take a luthier class at Mankato State. After that year, he was able to find a place doing instrument repairs at a guitar shop. And from there, the rest is legend. When he started making his own guitars, and later mandolins, he was the happiest man in the world. Always refining and redesigning to his strict standards. Hans made many musician friends along the way, and sold many instruments to discerning musicians. 

From the Guitar Repair and Building program at Minnesota State College Southeast in Red Wing, MN:

Our thoughts go out to the memory of Johann Brentrup. He was based in Minneapolis, and was well known for his outstanding mandolins as well as beautiful guitars. He authored two books, one on making mandolins and the other on the Larson Brothers methods of guitar building. In his later years he donated many jigs and forms to our guitar teaching program. He was an alumnus of the college’s String Instrument Repair program, having studied in Red Wing in 1975-1976.

Obit from the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Johann (Hans) Daniel Brentrup 77, passed away from COPD at his home in Minneapolis on September 18, 2024. He died peacefully with dear friends by his side. He is preceded in death by his father, Johann (Hans) Brentrup Sr., his mother, Agnes Brentrup (née Carroll) and his wife, Maureen Marvel McElderry. He is survived by his sister, Maria Lichter and many dear friends in Minnesota and elsewhere. Plans for a service are pending.

memorial service

Celebrating and Remembering Maureen and Johann

November 23, 2024

Celtic Junction Arts Center 836 Prior Ave N, St Paul, MN 55104, USA

SPEND PRECIOUS TIME: On November 23, 7-10pm at CELTIC JUNCTION (836 Prior Avenue, Saint Paul) celebrating the lives of Maureen McElderry and Johann (Hans) Brentrup, with songs and stories from a community of artists and friends who knew and loved them.

A slide show prepared by Johann’s sister, Maria Lichter of Sparta, Wisconsin will be shown at the beginning of the evening.

Musicians and speakers will include Pop Wagner, Nancy Meeden, Tim Hennessy, Bob Bovee, Dakota Dave Hull, Bob Bjorke, Papa John Kolstad & Bill Smith, Tim Sparks, Rob Coleman & Dan Hansen, John Ashton & Bill Smith and Charlie Maguire.

The program will be live-streamed for those who cannot attend in person. For updates on the live-stream link please send an email to:

popwagner@mac.com

After the program there will be time to visit, play music and see a display of photos, guitars and mandolins built by Johann and other memorabilia.

Light snacks will be served.