Terrence L. Brandner

Terrence (Terry, Terry-ific) L. Brandner transitioned to the next plane peacefully in his sleep early on Monday morning, November 24, 2025 at the Pete and Jelaine Horton Center Skilled Nursing Facility in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. He was diagnosed with stage 4 renal cancer in February, 2023 and although he outlived the predictions and survived 2 heart surgeries, his body had just had enough.

Terry was born on December 4, 1949 in Mobridge, South Dakota to Albertus (Bert) and Elvera (Holzworth) Brandner. He arrived home in Herreid in the arms of his mother as his father drove their tractor up their long, snow-covered driveway. As the oldest of three children, Terry often tells the story of driving the tractor from age 5 or 6 with a block of wood on the gas so he could reach the pedal. He worked hard all his life.

Terry attended Herreid School and graduated as valedictorian. He excelled in sports - football, basketball and baseball. He received his BS from Northern State University and also attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire. His knowledge of science, nature, astronomy, weather, insects, birds was truly amazing. He loved playing Pinochle with family and especially his brothers. And that usually involved Gin and Tonics with Terry saying to Tim "Hey Tim, mix me one". And Tim did. And a very knowledgeable sports fan he was - Packers, Colts, Celtics, Bucks, Brewers, etc.

He worked in the telecommunications field for decades starting with Strandell Engineering, moving to GoldenWest Telecommunications in Wall, South Dakota as a right of way specialist. He specialized in working with the Native tribal elders building trust and respect as he negotiated the right of way permits to bring telecommunications to the reservations in western South Dakota.

Terry and Gay met on eHarmony in 2008 and after 38 months and 62,480 miles of long distance meetings from Wall to Door County, he retired to Door County in 2012. Terry and Gay were married (we called it a senior shotgun wedding due to his cancer diagnosis) on September 30, 2023 at the Hitching Post in Sturgeon Bay. As his wife, writing this obituary, I want to say that Terry was my sunshine and my rock. Every day we were together, we laughed. We often said that we saved each other. We were very grateful for our love. And I always told him I would not stop talking to him after he died, and I haven't.

He is survived by his wife, Gay Pustaver, her son Colin Pustaver-Olson, his brothers Tom Brandner (Laurie) and Tim Brandner (Shelly), step-daughter Andrea Shadduck, her children and grandchildren, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews with whom he shares a rich history and much love and laughter. Our circle of friends in Door County and Illinois have also been a huge support for us and each of my friends who met Terry immediately took to him.

Terry was preceded in death by his parents, many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends and his step-grandson, Jamie Saylor.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay with visitation from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm and service from 4:00 pm-5:00 pm.

We want to thank Green Bay Oncology, St. Vincent's Hospital, St Mary's Hospital, Unity Hospice and the DCMC Horton Skilled Nursing Facility for their care of Terry in his last weeks.

Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Terrence may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.HuehnsFuneralHome.com.