John M. Brandt

He was born on December 23, 1932, in Evanston, IL, the son of William A. and Stella L. (Heppner) Brandt. John married Elsie “Elly” J. Brandt on August 19, 1961, in Evanston.

John graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1951. In his youth, he worked several jobs at Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette, IL, where he earned an Evans Scholarship for being a high-achieving caddy. He earned a B.S. Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1956. He was a lifetime member of the UIUC Alumni Association. Before his senior year, he took a 2-year break from studies to serve in the U.S. Army and was stationed at the base in Kaiserslautern, Germany. While there, he traveled on weekends to see the major sites throughout Europe. His career was with Illinois Bell Telephone Company as Manager in the Real Estate Management division responsible for overseeing the new construction and renovation of phone buildings. John started with the phone company as an intern in Chicago during college summer breaks, retired in 1990, and returned for several years as a contractor. He would frequently be out of town at construction job sites for several days per month. Early in his career, he was on a multi-month project in Alaska that included daily float plane flights to the job site. Throughout his career, he held the Professional Engineers credential and was a life member of the Illinois Society and National Society of Professional Engineers.

John was an ardent fisherman. He enjoyed golfing and monthly poker night with the guys. John was a persistent gardener and handyman. He was a member of the Springfield Motor Boat Club where, with Elly, they annually celebrated New Years Eve and 4th of July festivities with friends and family. John enjoyed volunteering with Elly for many years at the LPGA Charity Golf Classic at The Rail and at Panther Creek, at Memorial’s Festival of Trees, and as ushers for over 15 years at the UIS Sangamon Auditorium Performing Arts Center. John was a Red Coat volunteer at Memorial Medical Center for over 20 years. He was also an active member of Illinois Bell retirees’ Telephone Pioneers, of the American Legion, and a member of the founding board of directors of Concordia Village Springfield. Several years ago, John was honored to join a Land of Lincoln Honor Flight to Washington D.C., with his son, Scott, as his guardian.

Annual family vacations and world travel with Elly were a highlight. To the Brandts, he was “Uncle Johnny”, and to his grandchildren, he was “Papa”. On the annual extended Brandt family vacation to Cedar Knob Resort on Kentucky Lake, he would fish for hours each morning and each evening to host a fish fry for 30+ Brandts and still have enough for fish fry gatherings year-round at home. For 30 years, Elly and John snow birded to SW Florida for February. He encouraged and greatly enjoyed when family could join them for as much time as possible. He 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 favorites. Many of the trips were with friends and with the BOS travel club.

John was a dedicated father of their three sons. His sons cannot remember a home Springfield YMCA swim meet, Olympic Club swim meet, Khoury League baseball game, Springfield High School swim meet, or college swim meet that he did not attend. Swim parenting included travels to out-of-town all weekend swim meets sitting in the stands and cheering. He felt great pride in every one of his sons’ wins and achievements, athletically, academically, or other. John was equitable with his love for and devotion to each son.

John was an avid Chicago Bears fan beginning with six season tickets at Wrigley Field in the 1940s with his family. He was also an avid Fighting Illini Football fan starting during his college years and reigniting in the 1980s with season tickets while two sons were attending UIUC. Chicago Cubs and Fighting Illini basketball were also his favorites to root for and bemoan when they were not winning. When his sons were pre-college age, the family would attend the Fighting Illini football homecoming game every year, hanging out with Evans Scholar classmates and families, and go to a Chicago Cubs game at Busch Stadium.

A favorite pastime of John’s was sitting in the sun with Elly on a beach, pool side, on a porch balcony, or on their back deck enjoying the frequent visiting hummingbirds they attracted with their feeders. He loved ice cream, fudge, and chocolates, and always had room for dessert.

John and Elly had been members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Sherman for 30 years, and prior to that, 30+ years at Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield. Over the years he held positions of President, Vice-Chair, Greeter, and various boards. John and Elly were both baptized, confirmed, and married at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Evanston, IL. It was at a Bethlehem Lutheran Church service when, in their late 20s, John sat next to Elly during one of her visits to home while living in Southern California that their courtship began.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Elly, by four days; parents; and brother, Robert Brandt.

John is survived by 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 the 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.