Richard Haury Brandt

Richard Haury Brandt of Fort Dodge, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Aug. 16, 2014, at Bickford Cottage, Fort Dodge, where he had been a resident for two years.

Richard was born on April 18, 1937, in Newton, son of Mildred and Leo Brandt. He graduated from Newton High School in 1955. He then attended Bethel College, North Newton, for two years, and in 1959 earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Kansas. Richard graduated from the University of Kansas Medical School in 1964. After an internship in Kansas City, he was drafted to the U.S. Navy and served from 1964-1966 aboard the U.S.S. Cavalier and at the Amphibious Base, Coronado, California. He was honorably discharged in 1966.

Richard married Carolyn Jean Johnson of Arkansas City, on June 17, 1962. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in June 2012. After completing naval service, Richard and Carolyn returned to Kansas, where Richard pursued advanced training at the Kansas University Medical School. He became a board certified internal medicine specialist. In 1969, he joined the Kersten Clinic, Fort Dodge. He was later employed at the Fort Dodge Medical Center, and retired from medical practice in Fort Dodge in 2000.  Richard was a long-time member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Fort Dodge, and served as council member, congregation president and on the church Foundation Board. He was also heavily involved with Rotary International and had been named a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. Richard was a lifelong tennis player and enjoyed tournament tennis. He served as the volunteer director of the Fort Dodge Junior Open Tennis Tournament for many years.  Richard's interest in nature called him to be a farmer and an avid supporter of the Fort Dodge Parks Foundation. He was a certified tree farmer and enjoyed many hours on his tree farm. A loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, Richard will be sorely missed by those who knew him.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents and by brother-in-law, Dwane Johnson.  Richard is survived by his wife, Carolyn; son, Craig, his wife, Andrea, and their children, Andrew, Ben and William, of Edina, Minnesota; daughter, Kristin, her husband, Larry, and their children, Charlie and Alyssa, of Fishers, Indiana; son, Kurt, his wife, Sarah, and their sons, Jonathan and Owen, of Minnetonka, Minnesota; sister, Barbara, and her husband, Edgar Neufeld, of Mission; sister-in-law, Gerry Johnson of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

The memorial service will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. Arrangements have been entrusted with Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services.  In lieu of flowers, Richard's family requests that memorial gifts be directed to: Gentiva Hospice Group, Ninth and Central, Fort Dodge; Bethel College, North Newton; or Heifer International.