William Brandt

William – “Bill” – Brandt was born on May 20,1932 in a small town in Nebraska. He was an only child. Bill’s father owned a trucking company and grain elevator, and his mother was an election poll worker and excellent baker. Bill grew up in a large white house only steps from Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where he attended school. He met his future wife, Jeanne, in high school. Jeanne was a cheerleader and Bill was the captain of the basketball team. Bill and Jeanne were married in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in 1954. Bill served in the U.S Army and earned the rank of corporal. He was stationed in Virginia Beach, Virginia during the Korean War and served as Military Police. Bill graduated from the University of Nebraska and went to work for General Motors as a traveling auditor. One day at GM, the auditors were gathered together and told about a new technology using a “computer”. They asked who would be interested in learning this new technology and Bill’s hand was the only one that went up in the whole room. He became a mainframe computer programmer at GM when computers had to be kept cool, were the size of an entire building floor and were programmed with punch cards. He excelled in this position and became a legendary resource within the department at GM. As a U. of N. grad, he often embedded “Go Huskers!” in the miles of mainframe code that he wrote. He worked for years in the famous General Motors building in Detroit, Michigan and eventually transferred to the GM Tech Center only a couple of miles from his suburban home. His protégé was a University of Oklahoma graduate (and U. of N. rival), so whenever he discovered Bill’s “Go Huskers!” in the code, he would replace it with “Go Sooners!” as a running joke. He retired after 37 years at GM and his retirement party was held in a large hall to accommodate many attendees. Bill and Jeanne had four children, Terri, Bill, Bob and Shari. Bill’s sons and some grandchildren followed in Bill’s footsteps and work in IT and engineering. All four children are college graduates and two completed post-graduate degrees. Bill was very proud of his family’s success. He had nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren (with another on the way). Upon retirement, Bill and Jeanne built a house on Lake Huron in Northern Michigan, where they enjoyed family visits. Bill enjoyed playing cards, socializing, gardening, and building things. He moved to an assisted living facility near his daughter, Shari, in Northern Virginia three years ago and after the passing of his wife and daughter. Bill died peacefully at his residence on November 16, 2024, with Shari and her husband, Justin, by his side. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine (Jeanne) Brandt (née Carper), and his daughter, Theresa Larrew (née Brandt). He is survived by his children: Bill Brandt, Bob Brandt, and Shari Youtz (née Brandt) (Justin); and his grandchildren: Jesse Larrew (Jenna), Joe Larrew, Kayt Bresnahan (née Brandt) (Kevin), Billy Brandt, Cardon Brandt (Pamela) Remington Brandt (Cami), Kacey Brandt and Tristin Youtz; and great grandchildren: Raine Larrew, Izzy Brandt and Pierce Brandt. Services to be held as follows. Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 12807 Valleywood Drive, in Lake Ridge, Virginia. A luncheon will follow the Funeral Mass (12:30 p.m.) at Tribute at the Glen, 4151 Old Bridge Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Michigan services include a viewing at 10:00 a.m. and funeral service at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 25, 2024 at Squires Funeral Home, 211 North Henry Street, Bay City, Michigan. Interment at Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Road, Holly, Michigan at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, November 25, 2024. To honor the lives of the Brandt family members taken too soon, a donation may be made in his name at: Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

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William Brandt

May 20, 1932 - November 16, 2024