Yale Brandt

Yale Mansfield Brandt of Chester, VA, born on September 7, 1930 in Mansfield, Ohio, went home to be with his Lord on Thursday, August 17, 2006. He was the son of the late William Yale and Winifred Katherine Brandt of Battle Creek, Michigan. He is survived by his wife, Rita Nielsen Brandt who he married on November 21, 1951; four children, Randall and Kathie Brandt of Waynesboro, Robyn Brandt-Krueger of Lockport, NY, Dr. Richard and Dr. Carmen (Neyra) Brandt of Marietta, GA, Roslyn and Richard Blankenship of Richmond; six grandchildren, Katherine, Elizabeth and Julia Brandt, Samantha, Richard and Alexander Blankenship; a sister, Barbara Aurora of Minneapolis, MN; one surviving uncle, Robert Brandt of Amsterdam, OH; brother-in-law/sister-in-law, Chris and Sue Nielsen of Vicksburg, MI; three nieces and two nephews, Matthew, Gean, Alesia and Christa and was preceded in death by a niece, Christianna. Mr. Brandt received his BS degree in Pulp and Paper Chemistry from Western Michigan University. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, stationed at Fort Knox. Yale was employed with Reynolds Metals Co. for 38 years, working his way through the company starting as a plant chemist, to plant manager positions, to head of operations and retiring as Vice Chairman of the company in 1995. He was instrumental in developing the Reynolds brown-in-bag. He was president of Harrowgate Trust Community Association, one of the founding members of Chester Family YMCA, a board member at the YMCA and Metro YMCA, a board member of Junior Achievement, Chester Forum, Eskimo Pie, Robert Shaw Controls and a member of Willow Oaks Country Club. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church (LCMS) since 1972. He loved his Lord and his church serving both in many capacities including several terms as Congregation President and a member of the church choir. He was a delegate to the Synodical Convention, served on a number of committees of the Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod over the years and most recently on the Mission Board of District #10 for the Southeastern District. Yale was well-read and well-traveled; loved golf and tennis; enjoyed young people and mentored many-young and old alike. There will be a memorial service to celebrate the life of Yale at Grace Lutheran Church, 13028 Harrowgate Rd.on Saturday, August 26 at 11:00 A.M. A reception will follow immediately after the service where the family will receive friends. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Harrowgate Before and After Program, Chester Family YMCA, 3011 W. Hundred Rd., Chester 23831 or Grace Lutheran Church, Memorial Garden Fund, P.O. Box 3436, Chester 23831