Funeral Homily for Albert Brandt

It was in the year 1915 on St. Valentine's Day that your godly parents, Alberta, picked up their child, Albert, and carried him to the old Saint Paul’s, where Pastor Hansen reached out his hands and marked him with the sign of the cross: “Nimm hin das Zeichen des heiligen Kreuzes, beide an der Stirn + und an der Brust +.” Then a few moments later Pastor Hansen’s hands poured water three times over that little one’s head: Albert, Ich taufe dich im Namen des Vaters und des Sohns und des Heiligen Geistes. Amen. Then Pastor Hansen’s hands were laid upon Albert’s head with this prayer: “Der almächtiger Gott und Vater unsers Herrn Jesu Christi, der dich wiedergeboren hat durch das Wasser und den Heiligen Geist, und hat dir all deine Sünde vergeben, der stärke dich mit seiner Gnade zum ewigen Leben. Amen!” The Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has birthed you anew through water and the Holy Spirit and forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with grace to eternal life.

That prayer was made 91 years ago. It was answered this past Wednesday. The God who had given to Albert the new birth, forgiven him his every sin and strengthened him with grace each day of his life, finally took Albert to eternal life.

For this is the conviction of the Christian Church: that to die in the Lord is not to die but to begin to live. We know that Christ’s own death has destroyed death! We know that He has flung wide open the Kingdom of heaven to all believers! And we know and rejoice today that Albert was indeed a believer in Jesus Christ.

“I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord” cried the Psalmist, and if ever there were a person who made those words their own, it was Albert Brandt. When were the doors of this house open and he was not here? It next to never happened. When there was a service, Albert was here. An hour early even. I can still see him sitting right over there, praying and meditating, waiting for the service to begin. “Sing unto the Lord a new song for He has done marvelous things!” cried the Psalmist, and those words too Albert made his own. Singing in the choir until just two years ago – climbing those stairs from the basement, in order to “make a joyful noise” to the Lord.

Why? Why would a man devote so much energy, so much love to the Church? Because Albert knew that here, here in the Church he found “heaven on earth.” Several years back he had given a song to Cindi and asked her to sing it for his funeral. You heard it a few minutes ago. The song celebrates that the soul cannot find a place of rest here in this world – it will only find such rest in heaven, in the arms of Jesus. But Albert knew that he didn’t have to wait till he died to taste the joys of heaven. Now way! He knew that the love of Jesus surrounded him throughout his life, and most of all that love touched him right here in this room.

He knew that this was no ordinary place. This is the place where Jesus comes to His people to give them rest. At this altar times beyond count, Albert received into his mouth the very Body and Blood of the Savior. Here he listened to His Savior’s sweet promises. Here his soul drank deeply of the heavenly rest that Jesus brings into this world.

Anyone who knew him, knew that Albert was a man of who tasted that rest. His soul was at peace. His mind was inquisitive and he was always reading and pondering and learning. But there was nothing frantic about his learning. He was quintessentially a man at peace – and that was because he knew the heavenly peace of sins forgiven, death destroyed, and the certainty of eternal life with His Savior and all the saints. He knew that His Savior had prepared a great banquet to celebrate death’s overthow and that He was a welcome guest at that banquet. Peace and kindness, then, marked his presence.

The stories he could tell! He knew and remembered the history of this place like none other. The anniversary committee is planning on having his words be read at the anniversary banquet of the congregation this coming fall. They give a glimpse not just into a vanished past but into a great soul, a giant among men who never suspected he was anything other than a simple Christian. And that’s what made him so great.

Was he a sinner too? Well, of course! He knew that about himself and freely confessed as much every time he received Christ’s body and blood. A poor sinner who knew that His only hope was in His Savior who called him to Himself to give him rest. “Take my yoke upon you, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you shall find rest for your souls.”

Such rest Albert did enjoy all the days of his earthly pilgrimage, but all of that was only a teasing taste of the rest he entered on Wednesday. Then indeed came true the words that Cindi sang: “How blessed the rest with Jesus in the light! Death, sin, and sorrow are not known there. The sound of harps and their beautiful music welcome the soul with sweetest sound: Rest, rest, rest, rest, heavenly rest, in the Palace of our Mediator, I promise you.”

Ruh, himmlische Ruh. Albert has entered this rest and we may all look forward to it through our Baptism into Him trampled down death by death and bestows life to those in the tombs. Amen!

Albert E. Brandt, age 91, of Worden, died at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2006, at Community Memorial Hospital in Staunton.

He was born on Jan. 27, 1915, in Hamel, the daughter of the late Ernst and Mary Flachsbart Brandt.

He is survived by a sister: Alberta Suhre and husband, Otto of Granite City.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister: Rhoda Brandt; and a brother: Julius Brandt.

Mr. Brandt lived on the family farm. He attended St. Paul Lutheran School. After completing school, he took over the family farm and farmed his entire life. His memberships included St. Paul Lutheran Church, where he was a member of the choir; a charter member of the Alhambra Mens Community Club; the Southwestern Electric Board; the Madison County Farm Bureau; and a member of the Soil Conservation Board.