—   William Brandt, age 89, of Gaylord passed away Monday, December 24, 2012, at the Oak Terrace Health Care Center in Gaylord.

  Funeral Service will be Saturday, December 29, 2012, 11:00 A.M. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sibley Township, Sibley County, with Pastor Jon Gabrielson and Pastor Bill Nelsen officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery.

  Visitation will be Friday, December 28, 2012, 4:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M. at Egesdal Funeral Home in Gaylord. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Memorials preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church or donor's choice.

  William "Bill" Fred Brandt was born in St. Peter, July 27, 1923, to Fred (Bill) and Martha (Gerholz) Brandt. He was baptized as an infant at Trinity Lutheran Church by Pastor E. Schlactenhaufen, confirmed in 1937 by Reverend E.M. Mueller at Trinity. He attended country school at district 32 in Nicollet County and high school in St. Peter.

  He married Mary Catherine Bauer on June 29, 1947, at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor E. O. King officiating. They made their home on Bill's home farm, a century family farm. He worked with his father on the farm and also hauled livestock to South St Paul. In addition, he also worked for Green Giant hauling peas and sweet corn. He was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council. Bill was a strong believer in community service and was a member of the Gaylord school board for 18 years, a club leader for the Rush River Rushers 4-H, and served as a board member for the Star Creamery, Tri-Ag Services, Nicollet County Farm Bureau, and the Midwest Breeders Cooperative.

  After he retired and moved to Gaylord in 1991, he still enjoyed going out to the farm and helping Mark and Brian with field work. He also enjoyed working with a group of men who did woodworking projects with Sibley County kindergarten students. Bill also enjoyed traveling and visiting relatives and friends. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and attending their sporting events and concerts.

  When Bill's health started failing and he could no longer live at home, he became a resident of the Oak Terrace Health Care Center in July 2012.

  Bill is survived by his wife, Mary Brandt of Gaylord, MN; children, Jim (Mary) Brandt of St. Peter, Steve (Barb) Brandt of Cloquet, Mark (Karen) Brandt of Gaylord, Kay (John) King of Le Sueur, and Brian (Brenda) Brandt of Le Sueur;  15 grandchildren, Garrett Brandt (fiance Angie), Skylar Brandt, Sevyron Brandt, Heidi Brandt (special friend Jerry), Dan  (Jessie) Brandt, Staci Brandt, Jacob Brandt, Maggie King, Molly King, Evan King, Kelsey Brandt, Riley Brandt, Casey Brandt, Colby Brandt, and Lainey Brandt; sisters-in-law, Mary Brandt of Osseo, MN, and Gladys Brandt of Sacramento, CA; many nieces and nephews.

  He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters and brothers-in-law Clara (William) Scheibel, Milly (Adelmore) Pehrson, Dorothy (Heinie) Boelter; brothers, Herman, Art, and Ted Brandt; and sister-in-law Arzella Brandt.

  Arrangements by Egesdal Funeral Home in Gaylord, Minnesota. Online obituaries and guest book available at www.hantge.com Please click on obituaries and guest book.