Lavern Leo Brandt

Lavern L. Brandt, 95, of Weston, WI passed away Thursday, March 16, 2023 at Aspirus Hospital in Wausau.

Lavern was born at home on Feb. 15, 1928 in the Town of Hamburg, Little Chicago to Leo M. and Louise (Pruss) Brandt. He was joined in marriage to Delores A. Sturm on June 17, 1950 at Zion Lutheran Church, Town of Maine. They were married for 67 years. Delores passed away August 12, 2017.

He graduated from Marathon High School in 1946 and went on to the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point to graduate with a B E teaching degree for grades K-9. Lavern taught his first five years at two rural schools in the Wausau District. Then in 1954, he was hired by the Everest District to teach in the Junior High and coach sports. Lavern mainly taught math and was the Math Department Chairman for thirty years. He was the first to teach Remedial Math for Summer School, and co-authored a math manual with a co-worker.

During his years at Everest, he coached freshman football for 43 years, 38 of those being the head freshman football coach. Coach Brandt and Coach Malueg coached together for 30 years and finished a number of seasons undefeated. Lavern was the first varsity baseball coach for 4 years at D.C. Everest Senior High. For 35 years he was the head coach for 8th grade Jr. High Boys Basketball. He was the first Interscholastic Everest 8th grade girls’ basketball head coach. Lavern officiated basketball for 25 years throughout WI and he was the first to officiate shot putt for Everest. He continued officiating shot putt for 55 years.

Lavern received many awards throughout his tenure, some are listed below;

· Teacher of the Year 1981

· Athletic Dedication Award in 1986

· Became a member of the Silver E Club for teaching in the district for 25 years

· Became an initial member of the D. C. Everest Sr. High Wall of Fame for coaches in 2005

Lavern and Delores enjoyed traveling together. They went to Germany and other European countries, as well as many U.S. states one of which was Alaska. In their earlier years, they spent time with their neighborhood friends dancing to waltzes and polkas, as well as playing cards together.

Lavern and Delores authored a book of the history of Maple Grove Cemetery. They also created Maple Grove Obituary Binders which have all the obituaries from 1922-present. He was on the Board of Maple Grove Cemetery and served as its secretary for 25 years.

He helped form Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Rothschild along with Coach Howard Stiehm. Lavern was a charter member of the church and held several offices in it.

He was a member of the Pommerscher Verein Central Wisconsin German Club for 30 + years.

Lavern loved spending time with humorous friends at McDonald’s and the volunteers at Maple Grove Cemetery. In the last five years, he felt so blessed to have his kind and helpful neighbors Ken and Mary Rohmeyer, Randy and Beth Gruening and Eric Jehn.

Survivors include his daughter Lynn (Rich) Maier of Rothschild, his grandchildren Lori (James) Mueller of Waukesha, Ryan (Anna) Maier of Neenah, his niece Sandra (Jeff) Wolf of Kronenwetter, and his nephews, Darwin (Debbie) Kufahl and Perry (Shelley) Kufahl.

Lavern was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Clamont W (Helen) Brandt, and their children Patricia, Susan and Rob Brandt, his sister Dorothy (Charles) Kufahl and their sons, Wendell and Steve Kufahl and his sister Gerraine (Leroy) Sturm and their son Terry Sturm.

Visitation will be held at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 6205 Alderson St., Weston, WI on Monday, March 27, 2023 from 9:30 am till noon. The service will be at noon. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in the Town of Maine.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to any of the following:

Mt. Olive Lutheran Church (Weston)

Maple Grove Cemetery (Village of Maine)

Pommerscher Verein Central Wisconsin German Club

Marathon County Humane Society

Or a charity of your choice