William Brandt

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WILLIAM BRANDT
Nov. 10, 1934-Jan. 9, 2018

William Brandt, known as Bill, was born Saturday, Nov. 10, 1934 and passed away Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 at the age of 83.

He attended a two-room school in Blumenort, MB for seven years. Even after approximately 40 years in Calgary, there was still a group of men from his school class who got together when he visited Manitoba. His academic achievements were good, but that was not a strong interest. His mother, Anna, was a farmer at heart and his father, Abraham, was a well-known carpenter in Manitoba and beyond. Bill followed both tracks.

On a five acre farm plot, he showed his agricultural interest. He joined a 4-H Calf Club before he was a teenager and won two first prizes and one second prize in three years (one of the first prizes after his calf’s tail was damaged while loading for the agricultural show).

When he was almost 14, his family moved to a bigger farm where he put aside formal education and became a real farmer while his father continued with construction. His only brother, Ed, left home three months after the move. This left Bill with only sisters at home – and the five youngest ones did not realize his loneliness.

Bill was delighted with his first (new) vehicle, a half-ton pick-up. He purchased the adjoining 80 acres, but soon realized it was impossible to make an adequate income on a small mixed farm.

He began his construction career with A.K. Penners in Blumenort. He soon got his journeyman’s license in carpentry and became foreman for large projects. Later he worked for B.F. Klassen in Winnipeg and many other places including Coppermine, NWT. The job with B.F. brought him to Calgary in 1970. After some years, he established his own successful contracting company, but the farmer’s heart was still there. When he neared retirement he bought 160 acres near Calgary and grew grain there for approximately 10 years while living and working in Calgary.

Bill was also a traveller. He went to Hawaii many times, to Mexico, Germany, Spain, Portugal, the Philippines and China. All of this continued in spite of medical problems for 20 or more years. He sought help in eastern Canada and the United States – all to no avail. About a year ago his doctor persuaded him to start kidney dialysis, assuring him he would feel much better. However, after mild improvement, dialysis robbed him of quality of life. Bill decided to discontinue dialysis on Dec. 12.

Bill continued his social life with family and coffee buddies until Dec. 22. He stayed in his home with some help until Jan. 2, when he decided to go to hospice (palliative care).

Bill passed away Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018. He will be missed by his friends and family, but he left with hope of life in Heaven.

He leaves behind four sisters, Lena in Calgary, Elma in Steinbach, Mary and Caroline in Winnipeg, one sister-in-law Marie in Minneapolis, and their families. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother, two brothers-in-law and one nephew.

A memorial service for Bill Brandt will be held at the Evangelical Fellowship Church in Steinbach, MB, at 200 Woodhaven Ave, on Monday, Feb. 5, 2018 at 2:30 p.m.

As published in The Carillon on Jan 31, 2018