Robert Elliot Brandt
October 4, 1947 – July 22, 2010
Robert aka ”Butch” was born at the Budd Hospital in the Roseau, Minnesota to Clifton and Mabel (Sorensen) Brandt. He was baptized and confirmed at English Lutheran Church in Roseau. He was a 1965 graduate of Roseau High School having been a member of the golf, baseball and hockey teams. He also, fittingly, had the lead in the senior class play “Tom Jones”. Robert loved hunting and fishing with his dad and spent early mornings in duck blinds north of Roseau, overnights at the Brandt/Olson deer camp and hours in the boat at Rocky Point. After high school he ventured east to play hockey at the University of New Hampshire where he graduated in 1969 with a degree in Business Administration. Following a stint in Jackson, Wyoming skiing in the winter and guiding float trips in the summer, he moved to the Pacific Northwest and joined the family real estate company, Overlake Realty later to become EastLake Realty. Robert teamed up with his long-time business partner and friend, Dave Lindstrom, to specialize in developing and marketing residential real estate lots. Robert was a great uncle and was very proud of his nephews and niece and their children. He always joined in the family gatherings, albeit usually late, but always hungry for home-cooked food, the way Mom used to do it. He always made an effort to be at the cousins’ parties and made sure the conversations were philosophical. Robert dearly loved spending time in Roseau, Hawaii, Lake of the Woods and points far and near with his many friends and their families. He faithfully followed the University of New Hampshire hockey teams, Roseau’s high school and senior teams and the latest Stanley Cup series. He was a season ticket holder and avid fan of the University of Washington Husky football team…especially when they were winning. Robert died in a place he cherished, doing what he liked best and surrounded by friends he cared about and who cared about him. His dying came way too soon for us. He was preceded in death by his mom and dad, Mabel and Cliff and three infant brothers. He is survived by his sister Janet and his brother-in-law Rick Ulvin of Whitefish, MT, nephew Mark (Julie) Ulvin and grandnieces Madelyn and Emma of Kirkland, WA, niece Karin Ulvin and grandniece Samantha Tackett of Kirkland, WA, nephew Ryan (Courtney) Ulvin and grandnephew Oleksandr of Whitefish, MT. Also surviving are three aunts, many cousins and other relatives and numerous friends and business associates who will miss his humor, challenging persona, expertise and outspokenness. He was one of a kind.
Blessed be his memory!
Memorial celebrations will be held in Roseau, MN at Helgeson Funeral Chapel at 2 pm Tuesday, August 3, 2010 and in Bothell, WA at First Lutheran Church at 2pm on Friday, August 13, 2010. Memorial gifts may be designated in his name to:The Roseau County Wildlife Refuges c/o Area Wildlife Manager, 27952 400th Street, Roseau, MN 56751 or American Diabetes Association at http://www.diabetes.org/donate
