Jeanann Brandt

The greatest teachers are the ones who never stop learning, and for Jeanann L. Brandt, life itself was a classroom always filled with new knowledge and adventure. She was a woman of great strength who worked hard throughout her life, always thinking of others before herself. With a beauty and grace that could brighten up the darkest of days, Jeanann was an extraordinary woman who lived her life to love and teach others. She was dedicated to caring for her children and grandchildren who have now become her greatest legacy.

As World War II continued to occupy the world’s attention in 1943, Peter Henry Elgersma and his wife, Janetta (VanMersbergen), of Grand Rapids, Michigan were gladly focused on the birth of their youngest daughter, Jeanann Louise, on March 17, 1943. Jeanann enjoyed growing up in Wyoming Park with her siblings, Hank and Arlene, attending the area schools and Wyoming Park Baptist Church. Her father was a Baptist minister, and in the summer of 1958, he was called to serve at Halsey Baptist Church, which led the family to move to Royal Oak, Michigan. Here, Jeanann took her place among the student body at Royal Oak Kimble High School, where she graduated with the class of 1961. That fall she entered Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1965.

It was the fall of her freshman year that Jeanann met Carl Patterson Brandt. For Carl, it was love at first sight and to this day he can recall down to the last detail what Jeanann was wearing when she entered the Kollen Hall cafeteria that day. He had asked his fellow Knicks who she was, but decided to just go and introduce himself and with that, their love story began. Jeanann, however, didn’t see that moment the same way as Carl. She was just getting over the flu and was extremely hungry, so when he invited her to dinner – her thought was of having a good meal. In the end, the two fell hopelessly in love and were happily married on June 19, 1965, in the Troy Methodist Church.

After saying “I do,” the newlyweds took an unforgettable honeymoon to Leland, Michigan, where Carl fished for 6 days (though Jeanann said it felt more like 6 months). She knew she was in for the “long haul” when Carl dumped a small mouth bass into the bathtub with her. Jeanann later told Carl “Every day I thought you were going to take me to the airport, and that Leland was really just the prelude.” The couple settled into married life together in a home they briefly rented in Ferndale while Carl worked in the Microbiology Lab at St. Joseph Hospital. Three months later, they moved to Ann Arbor where Carl attended the University of Michigan Medical School and Jeanann taught English at Manchester High School. Over the next few years Jeanann single-handedly supported them, teaching and picking up extra responsibilities like directing the senior play.

When Carl started his OB/GYN residency in 1969, he and Jeanann moved to Grand Rapids. A year later they bought their first home on Woodlawn and soon filled their hearts and home with the joy and busyness of four children: Martha (1970), Chris (1972), Joel (1974), and Robert (1976). Once the children arrived, Jeanann stayed home and devoted herself to the role of a mother, truly a full time job. By 1973, Carl had opened his own practice and was working long hours, but Jeanann kept things running smoothly at home, even when there were three boys in diapers. Jeanann loved being home with her kids, so it was an extremely sad and tearful day for her when the youngest one started school in 1981.

Jeanann was a phenomenal writer and teacher. It was that gift that inspired Carl to suggest and encourage Jean to pursue her Master’s Degree, enabling her to teach college level English. Finally persuaded, Jeanann attended Calvin College and proudly earned her Master’s in English Education in 1987, all while running a busy household. How Jeanann found the time and energy for the competing priorities is a true testament to her commitment to family as well as her passion for teaching. Soon, Jeanann began sharing her joy of English Literature and the art of writing with countless students, teaching at both Calvin College and Cornerstone University. Being a devoted teacher, Jeanann had a thirst for knowledge and was a voracious reader. She and Carl could spend hours in the bookstore, looking for a new mystery novel or top seller to read and then add to their numerous bookshelves at home.

Jeanann loved her family dearly, and together she and Carl enjoyed 46 wonderful years of marriage. They loved to travel with the entire family and alone. Interestingly the first time Jeanann tried to get Carl to travel abroad, he went “kicking and screaming” because of his work responsibilities. Once there though, Carl fell in love with the new adventure, and they quickly became world travelers. At home, Jeanann enjoyed spending her leisure time tending to her beautiful flower gardens that adorned their home. There wasn’t anything that she couldn’t grow or bring back from the brink of death; she was undoubtedly the envy of the neighborhood. After the couple moved to Naples, Florida, Jeanann had perfect weather all year round to grow her favorite plant, Orchids. Jeanann also took great pleasure in playing the piano and singing songs and hymns; Carl would often sing along and will miss this cherished time immensely. Jeanann had a passion and flair for decorating and renovating, and put her heart and soul into the beautification of 9 different houses in Grand Rapids, Holland and Naples. In fact, she was just finishing up her last project while they were packing to come to Grand Rapids for Christmas.

Jeanann was a woman of true character, with a love for teaching and learning, a love only exceeded by the passion she held for her family and grandchildren that she held so dear to her heart. She derived endless joy from watching her family grow and succeed, and took great pride that all 8 of them were Hope College Alumni, her alma mater. Nothing warmed Jeanann’s heart more than spending time with her beloved grandchildren: Spencer, Madison, Grace, Hannah (died 2006), Katherine, Noah, Samantha, Isaac and Charles. Over the years, Jeanann has also numbered many beloved animals to her family, including 10 cats, 7 dogs, a tortoise, several fish, an iguana, many geckos and chameleons, roughly 2,000 guinea pigs, and zero snakes. For the last couple of weeks, her dog Zeus and cat Jasmine have been her constant companions.

In 2002, Jeanann was diagnosed with carcinoid, a rare untreatable cancer. Few people knew the agonizing pain she endured every day, even taking a bite of food was difficult. With a smile on her face, Jeanann told everyone “I’m doing fine.” She was never one to ask “Why me?” and was simply content to live in the moment, appreciating the family, friends and events that brought her life incredible joy. Sadly, Jeanann passed away in her family's arms on Wednesday, December 21, 2011.