Funeral Service for Lester will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 16, 2020, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Cordova with Rev. Brian Tuma officiating.  Interment will be in Zastrow Cemetery.  Visitation will be Tuesday 3:00-9:00 p.m. at Lauber Funeral Home, Friend and with family from 7-9:00 p.m. Viewing also one hour prior to service at the church.  Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation. Live broadcasting of the service is available through the church's facebook page @ St John's Lutheran Church, Cordova, NE.

Lester Leo Brandt was born on a farm in Nuckolls County near Nora, Nebraska on December 23, 1926 to William and Maggie (Peterson) Brandt, the 3rd of five children and passed away on Saturday, September 12, 2020, at Warren Memorial Hospital in Friend at the age of 93.  As a young boy, he was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church near Ruskin.  Lester attended Riber District country school in Nuckolls County through the 8th grade and then worked on the family farm with his father until his marriage.  Lester was denied the chance to serve his country during World War II, because he already had two older brothers who had been drafted, so he was requested to stay on the farm.  On June 26, 1949, Lester was united in marriage to Verna E. Horst in Ruskin and to this union five sons: Richard, Roger, Kenneth, Keith and Norman were born. They moved to Jewell County in Kansas for three years and together they made their home farming near Hardy. In 1960, they moved to a farm in Saline County and remained there until moving into Friend at the Friendship Terrace.   Over the years, Lester always helped with the neighborhood harvesting and in later years after semi-retiring from the farm, he worked on the Saline County bridge crew repairing area bridges. He was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cordova, the Lutheran Laymen’s League and served his church as an elder for 6 years.  In his spare time, Lester enjoyed playing cards with neighbors and friends and loved hunting and fishing.  In 2017, Lester and Verna were honored with the Long-Time Friend Residence Award at the annual 4th of July celebration.

Lester is survived by his wife of 71 years, Verna, Friend, sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Janet Brandt, Lincoln, Roger and Dianne Brandt, Exeter, Kenneth and Diane “Dee” Brandt, Wheatland, WY, Keith Brandt and Miriam Mazurak, both of Exeter, and Norman and Cindy Brandt, Friend; 18 grandchildren and spouses, Stacy Chalfont and Steve Uno, both of Bellevue, WA, Shari (Nathan) Humphrey, Kansas City, MO, Shannon (Tom) Stuhr, Milligan, Jordyn Brandt, Lincoln, Trystan Brandt, Exeter, Peytan Brandt, Exeter, Sean (Tina) Brandt, Lees Summit, MO, Daniel (Kaylie) Brandt, Lakeside, OR, Micah Brandt and Matthew Futch, both of Wheatland, WY, Nathaniel (Kaci) Brandt, Exeter, Morgan (Jarrett) Jensen, Friend, Dalton (Tonya) Brandt, Dorchester, Joshua (Stephanie) Brandt, Friend, Dylan (Brooke) Brandt, Waverly, Katie Brandt, Lincoln, Cameryn Brandt, Jaxson Brandt, Sadie Brandt, all of Friend, three step-grandchildren, Skyler Ratkovec, Wahoo, Jordyn Ratkovec, Lincoln, and Colten Ratkovec, Bruno, 17 great-grandchildren, two great-great grandsons, a brother, Donald Brandt, Hebron, sisters, Fern Schoof, Deshler and Marietta Free, Superior; sisters-in-law, Lana Horst, Edgar, Norma Walker, Winfield, AL, Lila Honeycutt, Haven, KS, Donna Genung, Deshler, many nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Dale Brandt; brothers-in-law, Vernon Schoof, Henry Free, Myron Schriever, Eugene Walker, Gary Honeycutt, Donald Hofferber, Robert, Alfred and John Horst, Roger Dondlinger, Russell Genung and Eldred Hinz, a daughter-in-law, Lori Brandt, sisters-in-law, Gertrude Brandt, Evaline Hinz, Lillie Hofferber, Vera Shriever and Janice Horst.