Irene Brandt

Irene Agnes Brandt, age 88, of New Brighton and formerly of Cannon Falls, died peacefully on Friday, December 7, 2012 surrounded by family at her daughter's home in New Brighton. Irene was born on September 14, 1924 at her family home in rural Parkers Prairie, MN, the daughter of Harry Edwin Olson and Ida Caroline (Wangen) Olson. She graduated from Cannon Falls High School in 1943, and went to work as a bookkeeper at Lampert Yards general office in St. Paul. She married Maynard A. Brandt; in September of 1944 their only child, Bonnie, was born. Irene was employed as a nurses aid at Mineral Springs Sanatorium, and at Armour's in South St. Paul in 1952-53. She later worked as a seamstress for many years at Kid Duds. She was a clerk at Hjermstad Hardware from 1999 until retiring in 2008. She was an active member of Wangen Prairie Lutheran Church, where she served on the church council and was active in the Ladies Aid. She enjoyed caring for her great grandchildren, family gatherings, vacations (to Rainy Lake, Ireland, Scotland, Cape Cod, and Cancun) with family, baking, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles at the cabin, the family dogs, and morning coffee with her friends in the "Sunshine Club." She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Maynard "Mac" Brandt; and brother, Edgar "Ole" Olson. She is survived by her daughter, Bonnie (Paul) Anderson of New Brighton; grandson, Jesse (Julie) Anderson; granddaughter, Lindsey (Peter) Fabian; great-granddaughters, Annika and Leah Fabian and Claire Anderson; sister-in-law, Mary Olson of Cannon Falls; nieces and nephews, Deanna Olson (Larry Jensen), Wyatt Olson, and Cammy (Bob) Johnson; cousins, Richard Soine, Larry (Barb) Olson, and Dennis (Jan) Olson; grand-nephew Adam; and many friends at Park Street Apartments in Cannon Falls and at Palmer Drive Apartments and Atonement Lutheran Church in New Brighton. A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 21, 2012 at 2:00 p.m., with visitation from 1-2 p.m., at Wangen Prairie Lutheran Church, 34289 Co 24 Blvd, Cannon Falls. Pastor Curtis Fox of Wangen Prairie and Pastor Thomas Jenkins of Atonement will officiate. A special thanks to Dr. Uzma Ali at Minnesota Oncology for her support in extending Irene's life by a year after her diagnosis of leukemia and for her continued affection for Irene. Thanks also to the comfort given by the Allina Hospice nurses. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Wangen Prairie Cemetery Fund, Wangen Prairie Ladies Aid, or Second Chance Animal Rescue (White Bear Lake).

Funeral Home: Lundberg Funeral Home 5839 Hwy 19 Blvd Cannon Falls, MN US 55009

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Friday, December 21, 2012

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