When Bill decided to retire, he sold the seaplane base (now Vette SPB) but could not find a buyer for the airport as an airport. At the time, I was building a new home next to the runway in a new subdivision. Bill told me he was closing the airport and had sold it to an auto salvage yard. Since it was not yet a “done deal”, I asked him to reconsider and sell it to me for a little less, and in turn I would try to keep it an airport. (Besides, I sure didn’t want a junk yard in my back yard!). Well, we made a deal and I bought the airport. It was not in very good condition. With weeds, trees, the gravel, three hangars, and only a few planes, not as many people used it as in the old days when it was popular. I could not keep it an airport without help and some income. Improvements were a must. A new blacktop strip lengthened to 2,500 feet, mowed grass and weeds, cleared trees, and yes, even old airplanes were cleaned up. I leveled land for new hangars and started talking to and begging area pilots to use the airport, build hangars, and base their planes here.

   We started having fly-in’s each year to help promote the field. Last year we had everything from old Stearmans to experimental and ultra-lites, and even a medical helicopter from ThedaClark Hospital in Neenah on display. We now have aircraft here for flight training. We could use an FBO and another flight school any time now. Additionally, new hangars, all privately owned, are now part of Brennand Airport and about 50 N numbered aircraft and a few ultra-lites are based here. What also helped Brennand stay an airport is that we have had about 30 – 60 aircraft stay with us for the EAA Oshkosh Conventions. We have room for probably 100, so we are hoping for more this year.

   It hasn’t been easy as I have a full-time job to keep me busy, but I still need to take care of the airport. We get help from some of the tenants, but we can always use more. Donations of anything from used but good airport equipment, snowplows, lighting, etc. or good ole cash can always be put to good use to keep Brennand Airport running.  Some manufacturers use us for demo flights during EAA and we hope to get more.