John Brandt Obituary

Former Durango resident John Selden Brandt died of cancer in Albuquerque on Thursday, May 28, 2009. He was 79.

Mr. Brandt was born to John W. and Helen Brandt in Sodus, N.Y., on March 27, 1930. He grew up in the small town of Wolcott in western New York, where he began his lifelong love of flying airplanes. His family said he was known for his sense of humor and excelled in sports and academics at Leavenworth Central School, where Mr. Brandt was a member of the state championship soccer team.

After graduation, Mr. Brandt attended Washington College for two years so he could enter pilot training in the Air Force. In 1951, he graduated with his flying diploma from Williams Air Force Base in Chandler, Ariz.

On April 10, 1955, he married Maizie Brown in Macon, Ga.

Mr. Brandt served as a fighter pilot in the Air Force for 22 years. He flew numerous types of fighter and bomber jets. He was in the first squadron of the jet era flying his favorite plane, the F86 Sabre Jet. He finished his career as a jet-pilot instructor at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas.

Mr. Brandt served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. At the time of his retirement, he held the rank of lieutenant colonel. In addition to two Distinguished Flying Cross Medals, Mr. Brandt was awarded numerous commendations and medals throughout his career.

During his military career, Mr. Brandt and his family lived all over the world. In his later years, Mr. and Mrs. Brandt continued their travels with visits to towns throughout the Southwest.

The Brandts lived in Durango for 17 years, where Mr. Brandt was a member of the Southern Baptist Church. He also enjoyed attending street fairs in Durango. They moved to Albuquerque in August 2008 to be near their family.

Mr. Brandt also enjoyed gardening, birds and mountains, passions he passed on to his family, they said.

"Devoted to his country and his family, he was a loving husband, a wonderful father, a very humble and honest man, with a mischievous sense of humor," his family wrote. "He enjoyed fishing, and it is still believed by his children that after an errant cast on shore from his boat, he holds the Texas state record for the largest cow patty reeled in."

Mr. Brandt is survived by his wife of 54 years, Maizie Brandt, of Albuquerque; daughter, Bonnie Brandt, of Albuquerque; sons John Brandt and Joe Brandt, both of Albuquerque; sisters Katherine Achorn of New Harbor, Maine, Martha Schafer of Fairport, N.Y., and Anne Sapp of Tucson, Ariz.; and four grandchildren.

A graveside service with full military honors was held Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Paralyzed Veterans of America at www.PVA.org.

Condolences may be left in the online guestbook at www.

danielsfuneral.com.