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September 13, 2012

Gerald Hald Brandt

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SUTTONS BAY — Gerald Hald Brandt, 79, of Suttons Bay, passed away Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, after a short, hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family.

Gerald was born Feb. 25, 1933, in Lompoc, Calif., the oldest son of Andrew and Helga (Hald) Brandt's six children. Gerald grew up on farms in Solvang, Calif., and Bellfountain, Ore.

He graduated from Junction City High School in Oregon. He attended Grandview College in Des Moines, Iowa, and Oregon State University (Bachelor of Science in soil science). He found his love for singing during college.

As a young man Gerald served his nation in the U.S. Air Force in Denver, Colo., where he was an electronics instructor and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

He met his wife, Evelyn Sallberg, while in the service and was married on Dec. 21, 1958.

Gerald and Evelyn moved to Michigan, where Jerry attended Michigan State University (Ph.D. in soil science).

He worked as a research scientist and a college recruiter for nearly 30 years at Dow Chemical in both Midland and Massachusetts (three-and-a-half years).

While in Midland he was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he sang in the choir and served on church council. He was also a Boy Scout troop scoutmaster, loved fishing, tended a very large vegetable garden and was an avid tennis and volleyball player.

In 1970 he and Evelyn became acquainted with Leelanau County and built a cottage on the tip of the peninsula. While building the cottage fireplace he learned the art of splitting field stone, a skill he later used on his current home, as well as an addition to the church in Suttons Bay.

Jerry and Evelyn eventually purchased the property in Suttons Bay now known as Farview Orchards. After five years of balancing part time farming with a full time career, they moved to Suttons Bay in 1992 to become full time cherry growers. Jerry found his true passion here, combining his knowledge in soils with his love for farming.

After retiring from Dow he did extensive genealogy research on his Danish ancestors and living relatives. He was also a faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, where he served as church council president and was an active choir member. He sang with Chamber Singers in Traverse City and the Leelanau Community Choir. He served on the Board of Directors for Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, for the past five years.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 53 years, Evelyn; his four children, C. Andrew (Victoria) Brandt, of Marysville, Calif., Leanne Brandt, of Salt Lake City, Utah, Ruth (Achilles) Spagnuolo, of Grand Rapids, and Gwynne (Mark) Kadrofske, of Okemos; two sisters, Judith Grotte and Sally Reed, of Washington; two brothers, Ronald and Dennis Brandt, of Oregon; and 11 grandchildren, Ryan, Robert and Christine Brandt, Elliot, Sam, Owen and Calvin Kadrofske, Bimala Brandt, and Olivia, Ellery and Claire Spagnuolo.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Barbara.

Visitation will be held Friday, Sept. 14, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Martinson Funeral Home, Suttons Bay. The funeral service will be held Saturday, Sept. 15, 11 a.m., at Immanuel Lutheran, Suttons Bay. Burial will follow the service in the Lutheran Cemetery of Suttons Bay. The Rev. Kent Lee will officiate.

Memorials may be directed to Immanuel Lutheran Church, PO Box 206, Suttons Bay, MI 49682 and/or Trinity Lutheran Seminary, 2199 East Main Street, Columbus, OH 43209.

Please share thoughts with Jerry's family on their online guestbook at www.record-eagle.com/obituaries/.

Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.

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