RAYMOND L. BRANDT

Funeral services for Raymond L. Brandt, 98, of Avon were held Friday, January 17 at Zion Lutheran Church in Avon. Burial was in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, rural Avon. Memorials are suggested to Zion Lutheran Cemetery Fund, a charitable organization of your choice, or to the family for designation at a later date. Peters Funeral Chapel in Avon was in charge of arrangements. Raymond Lavern Brandt was born April 27, 1926 north of Avon on the family homestead farm, the son of Berhend “Ben” and Lilly (Heins) Brandt. He passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at St. Michael’s Hospital in Tyndall. Ray was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Avon in April 1927 and later confirmed his faith at the Christ Lutheran Church in Highland, WI. Ray was attending Avon school when a new girl moved to Avon and started school. She wrote in his autograph book and signed it “Your Gal, Eleanor”. He had met the sweetheart of his life, Eleanor Edith Lauer. During the great depression, Ray’s family moved several different times looking for work. After corresponding through letters for several years, they were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Avon on June 3, 1948. To this union six children were born: Judith, Luverne, Dennis, Norma, Rodger and Dwayne. Ray and Eleanor farmed south of Avon until Ray took full time employment with Vigortone Feeds and later retired and began working for Ration Maker Feeds. After retirement he worked with one son in construction and helped farm with the other two sons. He loved to restore tractors and old farm equipment. Ray lived at home until his health failed due to COVID. His final year he lived at the Good Samaritan Society in Tyndall. Ray always had a historical story to tell and was a friend to everyone he met. He loved to travel. His last solo trip was around the United States visiting every one of his nieces and nephews. Thankful for having shared his life are his sons: Dennis and wife Lyla Brandt, Rodger and wife Sandy Brandt, Dwayne and wife Debbie Brandt all of Avon and daughter Norma Noller of Kearney, NE; ten grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and brother Robert and wife Shirley Brandt of New Palestine, IN. Raymond was preceded in death by his wife Eleanor on September 11, 2010; infant son Luverne; daughter Judy Pullmann; sons-in-law Art Pullman and Pat Noller; granddaughter Teresa Brandt; brother Maynard Brandt; sister-in-law Mary Brandt; and his parents.