Elsie "Elly" J. Brandt

She was born on September 6, 1931, in Evanston, IL, the daughter of Gottfried and Lydia (Gronke) Hauf. Elly married John M. Brandt on August 19, 1961, in Evanston.

Elly graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1949 and earned her bachelor’s degree in Education from Northern Illinois University in 1953. She began her elementary school teaching career in Des Plaines, IL for 7 years, then in Long Beach, CA for 2 years, then back in Des Plaines for 2 more years. Upon her marriage to John, coinciding with John’s transfer with Illinois Bell to Springfield, she taught in District 186 spanning from 1961 to 1995, at Staley School, Withrow, Laketown, Hazel Dell, and for most of those years at Hay-Edwards. She also taught pre-school for a couple years at Concordia Lutheran Church in Laketown after a brief pause to raise her three boys. She completed her career as a student teacher supervisor for University of Illinois Springfield. She was a life member of the Illinois and National Education Associations.

Elly loved her family, friends, women’s groups, crafting, and hobbies. They kept her constantly active. These included Stitch and Bitch Club, Ceramics and Crafts Club, Springfield Civic Garden Club, knitting, quilting, crocheting, sewing, bowling and golf leagues, playing Pinochle, Bridge, and Bunco. She had a green thumb planting many flowers and growing a rose garden in the backyard. When not in the sun on a beach, Elly enjoyed sunning on the back patio while enjoying the sight and hum of the hummingbirds with John. For many years, Elly and John annually celebrated New Years Eve and 4th of July festivities with friends and family at the Springfield Motor Boat Club, as well as the club’s Kids Halloween Party, with her boys wearing her award-winning home-made hand-sewn costumes. Elly enjoyed volunteering with John for many years at the LPGA Charity Golf Classic at The Rail and at Panther Creek, at the Memorial’s Festival of Trees, and as ushers for over 15 years at the UIS Sangamon Auditorium Performing Arts Center.

Annual family vacations and world travel with John were a highlight. For 58 years she hosted spaghetti dinners and fish fries, golfed, provided fishing companionship, and passed on the mastery of filleting fish on the annual extended Brandt Family vacation to Cedar Knob Resort on Kentucky Lake. For 30 years Elly and John snow birded to SW Florida for February. She loved it when family could join them for as much time as possible. She also appreciated and enjoyed the tight friendships developed over the years at Seascape in Bonita Beach. Elly and John enjoyed many travels in the U.S. and overseas, with Europe and European Cruises being among her favorites. Many of the trips were with friends and with the BOS travel club.

Elly was a dedicated swimmer parent and carpool driver for three long-time Springfield YMCA Swim Team sons and always enjoyed the comradery with the other swim families. The swim parenting, including travels to out-of-town all weekend swim meets sitting in the stands and cheering, continued through her sons’ college years. She also greatly enjoyed hosting tailgates as a Fighting Illini Football ticket holder for good times and the chance to feed Illini swimmers and friends. Her sons’ friends and teammates, her students, nephews and nieces, frequently expressed their appreciation for her being attention-giving, cheerful, and encouraging.

A favorite pastime of Elly’s was providing her grandchildren with tickle scratches on their forearms. She was “Mamma” to her family.

Elly and John have been members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Sherman for 30 years, and prior to that 30+ years members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield. She was a Sunday School teacher and alter guild member. Elly and John were both baptized, confirmed, and married at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Evanston, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and sister, Betty Templin.

Elly is survived by her beloved husband, John Brandt of Springfield; sons, Scott Brandt of Sherman, Todd (Karen) Brandt of Naperville, and Mark (Julie) Brandt of Lemont; grandchildren, Lauren (Drew) Clapper, and Elliott, Erika, John, Jenna, Charlie, and Ellery Brandt; sister-in-law, Joan Brandt; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation and Memorial Service: Family will receive friends from 2:00 to 3:45 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Sherman, IL, followed by Memorial Service at 4:00 p.m.

Burial: 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026, at Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie, IL.

Celebration of Life: being planned for a later date in the Chicago area.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Sherman, IL.

The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home - Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield.