Obit: Brandner, Jerry Ray (1933 - 2015)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Alsteens, Born, Brandner, Dray, Dums, Graham, Lekie, Mundt, Vlach, Waldhart, Wright

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 2/19/2015

Brandner, Jerry Ray (16 FEB 1933 - 18 FEB 2015)

Jerry Ray Brandner, 82, Medford, died on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at his home, surrounded by his children and under hospice care.

Funeral services and military rites will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford. Burial will be at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery in Medford. Pallbearers will be Brandon and Jaeden Brandner, Logan Wright, Alec and Austin Waldhart, Parker Alsteens and Lucas and Matthew Lekie.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Feb. 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hemer Funeral Home Chapel in Medford.

Jerry Brandner was born on Feb. 16, 1933 in the town of Chelsea to the late Carl and Lena (Born) Brandner. He attended Whittlesey elementary schools and was a 1951 graduate of Medford High School. He enlisted in the United States Air Force where he attended radio operator school and served as an international morse code operator on both the B29 and B36 bomber aircraft during the Korean War from 1952 to 1956. He remained on inactive duty for four years.

On Sept. 14, 1957 in Rib Lake, he married Shelby Jean Vlach, who preceded him in death in 2008. In 1961 he built and owned/operated Deep Rock Gas Station and Brandner Oil Company until 1998.

He was a member of Whittlesey Lions Club and Holy Rosary Catholic Church, and charter member of Medford Jaycees. He also was a life member of Medford VFW Post No. 5729 and Stetsonville American Legion Post No. 519. He enjoyed NASCAR races, Green Bay Packers games, deer hunting activities and stopping by many social establishments in the Whittlesey and Medford areas.

Survivors include six children, Cheryl Wright, Cindy (Roger) Dray, Dave (Kris) Brandner, Colleen (Todd) Waldhart and Todd (Marlene) Brandner, all of Medford, and Susette (Bill) Alsteens of Belleville; four siblings, Bonnie Fuchs, Ardath (Richard) Dums, Phyllis Fuchs and Gary (Eileen Mundt) Graham, all of Medford; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharron Brandner, and two brothers-in-law, Francis and John Fuchs.