Unitarian Universalist Minister Jeremy John Brigham Dies at 82

Jeremy John Brigham, 82, of Cedar Rapids, passed away on July 27, 2026, at Cottage Grove Place. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre located at 2121 Bowling St. SW in Cedar Rapids.

Born on October 2, 1943, in Concord, MA, Jeremy was the son of John Winthrop and Anna Louise (Dege) Brigham. His early years included time in Sioux City, IA, and Burlington, IA, where his father served as a Unitarian minister. The family later lived near Boston, MA, where his father worked for the Unitarian Universalist Association. Jeremy graduated from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, OH, with a B.A. in philosophy and religion. It was there that he met his wife, Selma Dannenfelser Brigham, whom he married at First Unitarian Church in Louisville, KY, on June 19, 1966. After college, they moved to Chicago, where Jeremy earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School.

Jeremy’s first ministry was at Valley Unitarian Church in Tempe, AZ. He then served as minister at First Unitarian Church in Cincinnati, and later at People’s Church Unitarian Universalist in Cedar Rapids. After his years in ministry, he pursued his interest in geography and social justice, earning a Ph.D. in human geography from the University of Iowa. During this time, he was near a campus mass shooting, which inspired him to advocate against gun violence, particularly in Iowa. He was a founding member of Iowans for Gun Safety.

Jeremy taught geography as an adjunct instructor at Kirkwood Community College and developed a course on the geography of Iowa. He also worked with international students and was interested in world peace, especially in the Middle East. He traveled to Israel, Palestine, and Jordan with other Unitarian Universalists and met leaders in the region. He was actively involved with several organizations, including the United Nations Association of Linn County, the African American Museum of Iowa, The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, and People’s Church UU.

Jeremy also participated in community service projects, joining a group from First Presbyterian Church of Cedar Rapids in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity. Along with his daughter, Sophie, he helped build a house in Puerto Escondido, Mexico. He sang in the choir at First Presbyterian until he could no longer do so. His life was marked by a commitment to social justice, education, and community service, reflecting the values of the Unitarian Universalist tradition.

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