Marvin was born June 17, 1926 in Reedley, California. He was the second oldest of six children born to Jacob and Agatha (Neufeld) Brandt. His siblings were Marjorie, Donald, Richard, Eulalia and Allen James “Jim”. They lived in Central California until he was six years old, after which they moved to Cucamonga and then Alta Loma where Marvin began first grade at Alta Loma Elementary School and where he completed his elementary school education. They attended and became members of First Mennonite Church on Campus Avenue in Upland.
Marvin cleaned school classrooms at his elementary school, cleaning the 5th-8th grade classrooms for 10 cents a room and hoed weeds at the principal’s home for 15 cents an hour. He saved his money to buy his first bicycle for $12 at the bike shop in downtown Upland.
He was a Boy Scout with the Old Baldy Council and attended youth activities at First Mennonite Church and summer camp at Camp Gaines in Sequoia National Park.
He attended Chaffey High School in Ontario until his Sophomore year. Marvin worked for Schneider Packing House, followed by Citrus Pest Control, where he was given his own spraying rig, and was in charge of 3 German War Prisoners around his own age who were brought up each day from the Chino Prison to work in the groves.
During WWII he served as a Private in the State Guard Reserves in Upland. He joined the Reserves for a year’s term on March 1, 1945. He was honorably discharged January 5, 1946.
In November 1945 at age 19, Marvin began working for W.C. Cline Co. in Upland. He began as a laborer, moved up to driver, and after two years began cement work, eventually becoming a finisher. As a cement mason foreman, he built gas stations for Mobil and Atlantic Richfield. He worked for Cline’s until it was sold in 1968, after which he worked for Morgan Lupher Company as Project Superintendent running their Union jobs until he was laid off in December 1981 and retired at age 55.
Marvin met and began dating Elizabeth Hamilton where she worked as a counter girl and waitress at Zenn’s Café in downtown Upland. Marvin had a 1944 Harley Davidson and a 1937 Chevy Coupe with loud pipes. When they began dating, he would drop her off at home, and she could always tell from those pipes whether he was headed home or back to town. Three months after meeting, they eloped to Yuma, Arizona on December 30, 1945.
They had four children, Sharyn, Marlys, Darryl and Laura. Marvin was a family man and loved having his children and their families around as much as possible. Many picnics and camping trips were enjoyed together.
In 1950 they began renting a house in Alta Loma, which they eventually purchased and where they lived out their lives. Marvin began working their 3-acre property and remodeling their small house, planted fruit trees and a garden. They raised calves for meat and their big freezer was always full.
Marvin and Liz had many good, long-time friends from school, church and the neighborhood. There were many get-togethers and camping trips with friends and family. He served on the Church Council as Chairman of the Building Committee for many years.
Over the years Marvin enjoyed basketball, volleyball and baseball with the church men, joined bowling leagues, loved to fish, golf and was a lifetime Dodger fan.
Marvin had three of pretty much each tool; one for him, one to loan out and an extra if the person didn’t return the one borrowed! From a career of construction, helping friends clean out their garage or property (and bringing a lot home), and desert swap meets, he amassed a huge amount of “stuff”. Everyone knew to call Marvin if they wanted to get rid of things! He was a saver, and he just never knew when he might need something!
After retirement Marvin tried his hand at baking, cooking, making jam, and canning. He wasn’t one to be idle and began remodeling his garage in 1978, making it into a machine shop. He purchased machines to sharpen saws, lawn mowers and many other blades. They took upholstery classes and reupholstered several pieces of their own furniture, in addition to furniture for other people. He began remodeling and doing building and odd jobs for friends to keep busy. He built homes for two friends and began building their own vacation home in 1980. Marvin was still up on his roof many times in his 80’s, and early 90’s, and installed wood flooring in his dining room at 90.
Marvin and Liz were married for 72 years when Liz passed away. In 2020 Marvin was the oldest surviving member of the Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ Union Local 500 with the most years (73) in the Union. He golfed until age 91.
Marvin is survived by children Sharyn (Rich) Klassen, Marlys (Jerry) Myrdahl, Darryl (Ann) Brandt and Laura (Doug) Lindsey, 8 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, his brother Jim and wife JoAnne.
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