Carl Brandt ’64

Carl Patterson Brandt died peacefully surrounded by family on March 8th, 2023. He was born on December 2nd, 1942 as the second of four children to the late Irving and Margaret Brandt in Royal Oak Michigan. Carl was a standout vocalist and Varsity tennis player at Royal Oak Dondero High School, where he won several awards. He graduated from Hope College in 1964, where, with a dazzling personality and clever jokes, he convinced Jeananne Elgersma to marry him in 1965. Shortly after, the couple moved to Ann Arbor and Jean supported them while Carl attended the University of Michigan Medical School, finishing in 1969. Carl excelled in medicine, and Jean’s investment paid excellent dividends. Adored by his patients, Carl was revered as a talented obstetrician and surgeon by his peers, delivering babies in Grand Rapids, Michigan for over 30 years. After completing his four year residency at Butterworth hospital in 1973, he joined the staff and chaired both the professional standards committee and the OB/Gyn department from 1986-1990. Carl mentored and taught countless new OBGYNs throughout his career. Eventually, Carl practiced long enough to deliver the babies of babies he delivered. Preceded in death by his wife Jeananne in 2011, and granddaughter Hannah, Carl found love again and remarried in 2013 to Geri Schwab. Geri and Carl lived happily in Naples, Florida for over a decade enjoying the sun, fine dining, and relaxing on the lanai. Carl loved fishing in the back water of the “inner-costal” with his friends and family, but was as happy fishing in the lake behind his home. Carl also loved his Sudoku puzzles, battling alligators on the golf course, and sipping the finest wine a box has to offer. Carl is survived by his second wife Geri Schwab Brandt, his children and grandchildren: Martha  ’92 Brandt, children Spencer, Madison; Chris ’95 (Laura ’97 ) Brandt, children Hannah, Noah and Isaac; Joel ’97 (Sarah ’98 ) Brandt, children Grace, Katherine and Charles; and Robert ’99 (Gwen ’99) Brandt, daughter Samantha. Carl’s sisters Kathleen (Andy) Morrow, Sarah (Dan) Tracy, and Martha (Jeff) Pollock, and 15 nieces and nephews. Also survived by the children from his marriage to Geri: Scott Robelen, child Cass, Tammy Robelen, daughters Michelle and Samantha, G.L. (Allison) Schwab, children Quinn and Carrington, and Craig (Andrea) Schwab, children Riley and Griffin. As a devout Christian, father, grandfather, physician, and friend, Carl improved thousands of lives. The Brandt home was the epicenter where all were welcome and treated as family. He demonstrated both his fiercely sarcastic wit and extremely strong work ethic throughout his entire life. His humor and personality proudly reverberates in his offspring to this day. Carl was the consummate role model of a father and friend. He enriched countless lives by selflessly giving to charity and through his mission work. He also tortured many lives by always putting onions and celery in his tuna-fish sandwiches. He took great delight in irritating his children by mispronouncing “schnorkeling,” “lazhure beams,” and measuring things in “sonimeters.” Carl had a passion for family, travel, golf, wine, blackjack, tennis, and fishing. Carl loved being on the water trolling for salmon. He fished in Lake Michigan, the ocean, Drummond Island, and anywhere he thought fish might be hiding. While fishing he caught over 10,000 salmon, at least that is what he told his children, and that was just on his last trip alone. Carl lived a life of class, grace, and sacrifice and leaves a legacy many people would hope to emulate. His love for others showed throughout his life of giving. A life well lived, he epitomized love, caring, hard work, wit, and kindness. Carl often stated to the ones he loved, “with me I can promise one thing, you will never be bored” and he was right!