- Date Of Birth: May 29, 1937
- Date Of Death: November 24, 2021
- State: Illinois
Jim Brandt, 84, a 4th generation farmer of Pearl City, IL, passed away on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at FHN, Freeport, with his loving family present. Jim was the firstborn to parents Evan and Belva Brandt (Bowers) on May 29, 1937.
Jim’s education began at Valley View country school for his first four years. He spoke of that school often as they had hot lunches. Jim would reminisce about the different lunch favorites that he & fellow students would request. At that time, Jim lived in a non-high school district so he and his family had to choose whether to attend Pearl City High School or Shannon High School. They chose Pearl City because of the ag program. From 5th grade on he attended Pearl City Schools, graduating in 1955. He was the Illinois State FFA President from 1956 to 1957. Jim attended U of IL short classes after graduation but chose to enlist in U. S. Army in 1957 instead of furthering his college education at that time. Perseverance paid as he graduated from Highland Community College in June 1966 and Illinois State University in May 1993.
Just a few months before having to report to the Army, Jim met Sally Olson. They were married on September 28, 1958, starting their life together in Manhattan, Kansas. Those strong farm roots prevailed, however, and they moved backed to Shannon where he worked at the Shannon Elevator until able to move to the farm in March 1960. He lived and farmed the rest of his life on or near the centennial Brandt Family Farm.
Jim’s family was one of his core values. Survivors include his wife Sally, sons Brian (Mary) and Bevan (Angie Kaney), of Pearl City; daughter Barbra (Gene) King, of Stockton; grandsons Andrew (Nikki), of Winnebago, Nathan (Torie), of Roscoe, Boden (Bryanna) and Brodie Kaney, of Pearl City; Travis Kaney, in U.S. Navy; granddaughters Kelsey King, of Stockton, Savanah Brandt and Macie Kaney, of Pearl City, and Kalli Kaney, of Philadelphia; great-grandchildren, Jack and Emersyn Brandt of Winnebago; Brayden and Rylan Brandt of Roscoe; two sisters, Janet (Jim) Schmidecamp, of Shannon, and Connie (Jack) Croffoot of Rockford, and sister-in-law Jean Olson of Harlingen, Texas, plus many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. Granddaughter Emily Brandt and parents Evan and Belva Brandt preceded him.
His love of farming was one of his core values his entire life. In fact, the family believes corn could have been his middle name. His last combining was a mere five weeks before his passing as he was able to combine his last corn crop. Many hope to die with their boots on – Jim did just that. When not doing his fieldwork, he pursued his interest in archiving the evolution of corn planters. Also an avid reader, he used his love of history with anything related to a corn planter and enjoyed sharing his knowledge of the past with a single visitor or a group. Entertainment meant going to antique malls and auctions to find whatever he could.
Travel was another interest and together he and his wife visited all seven continents from Antarctica to Barrow, Alaska. Also, there were many family trips ranging from Hawaii, Germany, and Peru, along with trips to most of the 50 states. Travel also included a recent July trip to Maryland and Pennsylvania as he was researching his mother’s family roots to ultimately become an upcoming book for the family. In Jim’s memory, the book will be finished.
Jim served his community by being a member of the Pearl City School Board from 1967 until 1976, the Pearl City Elevator board, the Pearl City Historical organization, and the Shannon Legion as well as a trustee on the Loran Township Board. He also looked forward to monthly breakfast with friends from his high school days.
Jim was never known to back away from any challenge, including those to his health. He successfully dealt with prostate cancer since 2005. Jim fearlessly fought a 5 week battle with Covid. While he was fully vaccinated in February, tragically, getting the booster was waiting for the completion of the harvest.
