Werner Carl Brandt

Werner Carl Brandt left this life peacefully on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at the age of 89. He will be missed, and his memory cherished, by Joyce (Meisel) his wife and constant companion of 67 years and devoted caregiver in recent months. The same is true for their three children Lynn MacDonald, Douglas, Brion and spouses. Vern took great delight in his 10 grandchildren and their growing families, including nine great grandchildren. Everything they said and did was of incredible interest to Grandpa. He also kept in close contact with many nieces and nephews with whom he could spend hours talking about farming, current affairs or the weather. Vern was born February 4, 1927 on the family farm near Davin, Saskatchewan, the youngest child of Karl and Martha (Bannicke) Brandt. He was predeceased by his parents and three siblings, Charlotte (Hanson), Herman and Paul. He took after his father, learning farming, fixing and an exceptional range of practical skills. He took after his mother in cultivating a lifelong passion for food – growing, buying, cooking, eating – and reading. A man of broad interests, Vern’s main passion and calling was business, negotiation and the art of the deal. Although he never completely left farming, he left the farm at an early age to work at a variety of jobs which led to a satisfying and successful career in farm equipment sales and management. He spent most of his career with New Holland as a sales manager for Saskatchewan and Manitoba, moving on to open and manage the first North American company dealership in Saskatoon. Vern put great stock in knowledge whether gained by self-instruction, working/talking with others or formal education. His formal education was interrupted by the war years and resumed well into his business career when he started university. Vern and Joyce enjoyed almost 40 happy years in Saskatoon and at Colonial Acres, their farm just outside the city. They travelled the country, the continent and the world together, enjoying and reminiscing about the sights, customs and people encountered – always another story to tell. In keeping with his last wishes, Vern will come full circle, cremation and interment in the family cemetery on the farm near Davin. Joyce and the family would like to extend profound gratitude to the many people who cared for Vern during these last days and months; family physician Robert Parker, Dr Ahmed and the Kidney Clinic at St Paul’s, Drs. Beavis, Basi and Pascas at University Hospital and especially the nursing and care staff – Lina, Trish, Gaytan, Jai-Lyn, Mallory, Nicole, Mavis, Sean, Becky and those we did not personally meet. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Emmaus Lutheran Church, Davin, Saskatchewan and the Kidney Foundation of Canada, Saskatchewan Branch.