Albert E. Brandt

Albert E. Brandt, 96, of St. Joseph, passed away Friday, May 23, 2014 at Crown Pointe Assisted Living in Stevensville.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Thursday, May 29, 2014 at Oakridge Baptist Church, 766 Oakridge Dr., St. Joseph with Rev. Scott Reeves officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. Friends may call from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra or Great Lakes Hospice Foundation. Those wishing to share a memory of Albert online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.  Mr. Brandt was born May 4, 1918 in Berlin, Germany to Albert & Minna Brandt. On July 22, 1948, he married Lydia Mueller in Berlin, Germany. On March 7, 1955 the family emigrated from Germany to the United States, settling here in the Twin Cities. Mr. Brandt was employed at Leco Corporation, Voice of Music, and as a custodian for St. Joseph Public Schools. He retired from Lincoln Elementary School in 1983. He was a charter member of Oakridge Baptist Church where he was active as the church treasurer, deacon, and Sunday School Teacher. In retirement Albert Brandt enjoyed playing with his cats, creating a clean aquarium for his goldfish, designing a German village for his train sets, and watching classical movies.   Mr. Brandt is survived by his daughter Renate (Michael) Pennington of St. Joseph; son Reinhard (Carol) Brandt of St. Joseph; three grandsons-Matthew (Nannette) Pennington of St. Joseph, Jonathan (Kristen) Pennington of Portage, Nathan Pennington of Three Oaks; and three great-grandchildren Bailey, Logan and Maddison Pennington. Albert Brandt was preceded in death by his wife Lydia Brandt in 2007, his son Wolfgang Albert Brandt in 1952, and by one brother Erich and sister Luise.