Jack "Gard" Brandt

When you try to define the sort of person Jack "Gard" Brandt was to his family and friends, you imagine someone who is an all around good person, who loves his family unconditionally, and always makes himself available when he is needed. This is how Gard will be remembered, as a man whose heart was certainly his strongest muscle. Jack Gardner Brandt, Jr. was born on September 11, 1963, in Muskegon, Michigan. When Gard, as he was affectionately called, was about two months old, he was adopted by his loving parents, Jack Gardner Sr. and Iola (Sparkman), who were overjoyed to have another child added to their family. Two years earlier, the couple adopted a little girl named Fran, and now their family was complete with little Gard. Jack and Iola felt truly blessed to have Fran and Gard, and they made sure the children knew how very much they were wanted and loved unconditionally. Being "older" parents, Jack and Iola were a little stricter and perhaps old-fashioned in their thinking, compared to Gard and Fran's friends' parents. Nonetheless, they provided a stable and loving home for their children. When Gard was about a year old, the family moved to Fremont, where Jack worked as an accountant at Gerber, and Iola worked various secretarial jobs. Time together as a family was always very important, and every year they would take a vacation most often to visit Iola's family in Texas. A typical boy, Gard didn't much like school, though his mother made sure he got his education. He attended Daisy Brook Elementary and Fremont Junior and Senior High School. At the age of eleven, Gard was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes and became insulin dependant immediately. For a young boy, this was extremely hard because he couldn't do and eat everything his friends could. In time, however, Gard adjusted to this lifestyle and made it work for him. Growing up, Gard and Fran were always very close. The two of them undoubtedly filled their home with their share of laughter, arguments and memories. Fran so wonderfully remembered her brother saying, "As I thought about my brother yesterday, after he died, it came to me that he was really a contradiction. The same brother who, on family trips in the station wagon, would poke me in the leg to see how long it would take to get a bruise was the same boy who let me play with his action figures for as long as I wanted as long as he didn't have to hear that Barbie kissed G.I. Joe. The same brother who decided certain "feminine products" were intended to be used as bottle rockets would wait and watch until I came home from dates and would come outside to "protect me." And the same brother who was always in my business would come to stay with me in my dorm room for Brother-Sister Weekend at college. And, despite the fact that he was 140 pounds dripping wet (later life he would get a lot bigger due to diabetes), he wanted to go and give the big college boys at the party across the hall "a piece of his mind" because they were too drunk and loud, and his sister shouldn't have to put up with that. And he has still done that, poked me or taken food from my plate at Thanksgiving. I don't know who's going to do that now...." During high school, Gard worked as a co-op student at Reber's Clothing Store; it was no wonder he was voted "Best Dressed" in school. After graduating, Gard continued working at Reber's for while before enrolling at Colorado Mountain College in Steam Boat Springs, Colorado, where he earned a degree in Guiding and Outfitting. Unfortunately, there wasn't much call for this line of work in Michigan, and Gard couldn't see himself living anywhere else. So, in 1998, he ventured into the food industry, working as a cook at the Brownstone Restaurant at the Muskegon County Airport. The Lister Group owned the Brownstone and another restaurant called Bay Caf, where Gard also worked as a "line dog." It was here that Gard met the love of his life, Beth Gundy, who worked as a server. Beth recalled that their first encounter wasn't exactly the best, in fact, she said "we didn't make a great first impression on each other." But as fate would have it, the two fell in love and were married on July 7, 1989, in Muskegon. The couple was blessed with two daughters: Dakota "Kodi" born in 1991, and Cassidy born in 1993. The Bay Caf eventually closed, and Gard went to work at the Century Club. Over the next few years, he worked in several of the finest, most prestigious restaurants in Muskegon, including at Rafferty's, where his great cooking talents were very well known. Unfortunately, Gard's diabetes took its toll on his health and he had to stop working. He underwent several surgeries to help with the vascular problems in his legs. Because of his limited work mobility, Gard's cousin, Chuck, suggested he look into opening a storage business. In 1999, Gard started the Gard Dog Storage and built a start of the art facility with top of the line security. After a couple of years, though, Gard's health became even worse and he was limited to just doing the business' computer work while his newly driving daughter, Kodi, drove him around when needed. Despite his serious aliment, Gard strove every day to be the best husband and father he could. Gard was very attentive to his girls, and enjoyed sharing some of his favorite pastimes with them. His daughter Kodi fondly remembers her father taking her to the shooting range, and proudly displays the shot up pop can she used as a target on her dresser. Cassidy, on the other hand, shares her father's love of cooking, and the two of them enjoyed watching cooking shows together. Gard was a proud father watching his daughter Kodi participate in the Reeths-Puffer Marching Band companionship, and Cassidy performing in the winter guard. He was truly their number one fan. Although his health was quickly fading, Gard had the opportunity to spend some time with his longtime friend, John, Pickett, in Florida this past October. Then in November, he enjoyed one last hunting outing with his buddies, who set up a deer blind for him off his back porch so he could still hunt with them. Over the last eight years, Gard has also endured several personal tragedies in his family, and lost many precious loved ones. These loses were truly heartbreaking for him, and it was hard to keep his spirits up. Gard will be deeply missed, yet frequently remembered by all who knew and loved him. Jack "Gard" Brandt, age 43, died Tuesday, December 19, 2006. He is survived by his wife, Beth Gundy Brandt; 2 daughters, Kodi & Cassidy Brandt; sister, Fran (Paul) Schamber of New Era; mother and father-in-law, Del (Julie) Gundy of Muskegon; 3 sisters-in-law: Peggy (Larry Bogner) Essenberg of Muskegon, Lori (Bill) Jeannot of Muskegon, Heidi (Tim) Payne of Lansing; 2 brothers-in-law: Tom (Pat) Gundy of Tucson, AZ, Troy (Kathy) Gundy of Winthrop Harbor, IL; many nieces & nephews; lifelong friends, John Pickett of Ocala, FL & Doug Nedeau of Grand Rapids. He was preceded in death by his parents. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 23, at 11:00 a.m. at Clock Chapel-Muskegon. Friends may visit with Gard's family on Friday, December 22, from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. and Saturday 1 hour prior to the service at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kodi & Cassidy Brandt Education Fund. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may leave a memory or sign the online guest book.