If life was a wrestling match, Brendt Noon Sr. would be standing at the top of the podium. Brendt was born into a Navy family on February 18, 1951 in San Diego, CA. His parents, Henry and Jeanne, moved the family to many military bases around the country. As a third grader, with his dad assigned to the Pentagon, Brendt began wrestling at the YMCA. His love for wrestling, coupled with his amazing prowess, was a constant in his life from then on. Brendt wrestled for Fremont High School, in Sunnyvale, CA and was the Northern California High School Wrestling Champion four years in a row. Brendt was in high school before CA had a statewide tournament, but no one doubted he would have won a state championship all four years, as he was undefeated as a high school wrestler.
Brendt finally met his match – his forever love – Diane Scott. They were married for 52 years and were blessed with three children. Brendt wrestled and coached at the West Point Military Academy, and their little family traveled the country in a VW van … Brendt immersed in wrestling and Diane taking care of everything else. After coaching at Humboldt State, then teaching and coaching at the Hoopa Indian Reservation, Brendt moved his family to Oakdale in 1984. He began a 30 year career at Oakdale High School where he was a counselor, special education teacher, P.E. teacher, and wrestling coach. Brendt was a tough guy but was always the first one to help kids in the sport. When his grandson, Trent, was in seventh grade, Brendt and his friends Martin Ugalde and Neil Pew started the wrestling program at Oakdale Jr. High. Brendt was a mentor to countless kids. He truly cared about their well-being, and if he heard of a student needing food or a pair of shoes, he was right there with a helping hand. The family moved to Knights Ferry, where Brendt loved to kayak the river, ride his bike along the country roads, and walk his beloved dogs, Gunnar and Cash. He also set up a wrestling room on his property and volunteered his time coaching young wrestlers. If you happened to be with Brendt in public, you could not have escaped hearing the friendly “Hey, Coach” or “Hi, Mr. Noon” greetings by people young and old. Brendt was always up for a good conversation – or argument – and he was avidly interested in current events and history.
Memories took Brendt down in the past year, and he was behind in points for the first time, but he was a fierce competitor. His loving family watched him finally pin life on February 12, and they know he is now at peace in heaven showing the angels how to do a single leg take down.
Brendt is survived by his wife Diane, his children Cristie (Joe) Martin, Brendt Jr. (Amy) Noon, and Elizabeth (Spencer) Thompson; his grandchildren Dante and Sofia Martin, Trent and Tyler Noon, Waylon and Tanner Thompson; and his siblings Henry Noon III, Michelle Noon, Larry (Rachelle) Noon, and Patrick Noon. He was predeceased by his parents, Henry Noon II and Jeanne Noon, and his sister Ann Noon.
A memorial service will be held at the Knights Ferry Community Club on Saturday, March 29, 2pm-8pm. Donations in his memory can be made to the OHS Scholarship Fund (“Brendt Noon” in the memo line).
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
The Riverbank (Calif.) News
Feb. 26, 2025
