Jack & Karen Brannecke

Jack and Karen Brannecke’s induction into the Crossmen Hall of Fame recognizes their lifelong dedication, service, leadership, and love for the corps as marching members, alumni leaders, volunteers, event organizers, fundraisers, storytellers, and devoted caretakers of the Crossmen family.

Their Crossmen story began before the corps itself had fully taken shape. Jack Brennecke marched with the Keystone Regiment, while Karen Denesowicz marched with the 507 Hornets. When those two organizations merged in 1974 to create the Crossmen, Jack and Karen became part of the new corps’ earliest history. Karen played mellophone, and Jack began as a bass drummer before later becoming a baritone player. Both marched through the 1978 season, with Jack aging out that year and Karen completing her marching career as well.

In 1982, Jack and Karen created their own Crossmen merger when they were married, building a life together rooted in the corps, its people, and its traditions. Their commitment to the Crossmen continued long after their years on the field. They remained active alumni who could always be counted on to support the directors, staff, members, and fellow alumni.

Throughout the years, Jack and Karen have been involved in planning, supporting, and working nearly every kind of fundraiser and alumni event connected to the corps. In the 1980s, Jack called bingo games while Karen worked the tables, helping support one of the most important fundraising efforts of that era. They were also involved in major events such as the annual Crossmen Scholarship Dinner, the Allentown Picnic in the Park celebration, and many other gatherings that brought alumni, families, and supporters together.

When the Crossmen Alumni Association reorganized in 1997, Karen and Jack were instrumental in helping fulfill its mission. They helped lead conversations, generate ideas, and strengthen the ways alumni could contribute to the ongoing success of the corps. They opened their home for alumni gatherings and created space for connection, conversation, and renewed commitment to the organization.

Their leadership was especially meaningful during the Crossmen’s move to Texas. At a time when many alumni were struggling with the difficulty of that transition, Jack and Karen helped support the corps and the alumni community. They sponsored members, encouraged understanding, and helped others see that while the corps had moved geographically, the spirit of Bones remained alive and worth supporting.

Jack and Karen have also played a major role in helping the corps feel at home whenever it returned to Pennsylvania. They helped organize and serve Philly-style dinners and other special meals for the members while on tour. These meals were more than a treat; they were an expression of family, tradition, and care. They also gave the food crew a much-needed break and reminded the members that generations of alumni were still standing behind them.

In more recent years, Karen, along with Maureen Morrison, has organized and run the annual Crossmen banquet in Allentown. Karen has also been a driving force behind “Feed the Corps” efforts whenever the corps is in the area, continuing her long tradition of caring for the members in practical and meaningful ways.

Jack’s contributions have been equally important to the alumni experience and the preservation of Crossmen history. He has run audio programs for banquets and fundraising events and has served for many years as the Master of Ceremonies for the Hall of Fame ceremony. Known by many as “the voice of the Crossmen,” Jack has narrated several corps videos and co-produced the famed History Night video with Michele Williams, helping preserve and share the stories that connect generations of Crossmen.

Throughout the history of the corps, Jack and Karen have often been found working quietly in the background, making sure events happen, traditions continue, members feel supported, and alumni stay connected. Through their example, they have inspired many other alumni and friends of the Crossmen to get involved and give back.

For their years as marching members, their decades of alumni leadership, their tireless work on fundraisers and events, their support during the corps’ move to Texas, their care for the members, and their lasting role in preserving and celebrating Crossmen history, we proudly honor Jack and Karen Brannecke as members of the Crossmen Hall of Fame Class of 2018.