Josephine BRANDT

1920 - 2015

BRANDT, Josephine
Josephine Dreis Newton Anderson Brandt, known affectionately as "Jo," died peacefully at the age of 95 in West Palm Beach, Florida, on October 9, 2015. Jo was born on March 28, 1920, in Cameron, Texas, to Dr. William Roland Newton, Sr., whose ancestors fought in the American Revolution, and Matilda Juliette Mondrik Newton, whose mother was a first-generation American born of Czech parents. The youngest of six surviving children-William, George, Mary, Nancy, and Frank-Jo grew up in a medically, musically, and politi--cally minded family. Her father, Dr. Newton, Sr., a member of the American College of Surgeons and president of the Milam County Medical Association, built the first hospital in the region to train nurses at a time when few young women had hopes of a profession. In honor of his father, Jo's eldest brother later built the Newton Memorial Hospital. Representing the 13th Congressional District, Dr. Newton, Sr., and Jo's brother George were the first father and son to serve simultaneously in the Texas State Legislature. George was the youngest elected representative in Texas history. Jo's father was known for standing boldly against the Ku Klux Klan. When an African American man was in danger, Dr. Newton would hide him at night in the back of his buggy and drive a hundred miles into the next county. No man dared protest; one day he might find himself on Dr. Newton's operating table. Jo's mother, Matilda, who was educated at an arts and crafts college for women, was celebrated for her creativity and beloved for her civic serv--ice during the Great Depression. As a young woman, Jo excelled in speech, drama and music, for which she received national recognition as an oboe soloist. Awarded numerous scholarships in music after graduating from high school in 1938, she attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she played oboe in the Symphony Orchestra and alto and tenor saxophones in the University Marching Band. All members of the family played musical instruments and performed together. Jo's brother Frank, whose plane was shot down in the first American sortie into Africa, spent the war in a German concentration camp. "Tex," as his fellow prisoners knew him, boosted the morale of the camp by singing and playing fiddle and guitar. After the war, Frank attended seminary and returned to the land of his captors to pastor a church. In 1941, Jo married "Bill," William Herbert Barclay Anderson, a native of Colorado, where his father served as Mayor of the City of Greeley. Bill studied law at the Universities of Colorado and Texas, during which time he met the beauti--ful Jo. During World War II, the family moved to Houston, where Bill drafted schematics for warships for the United States Navy. Jo was close to Bill's parents, Elizabeth Dolan and William Earle Anderson, who supplied produce for the Pacific Fleet and with whom Bill later worked in the produce industry. After the war, Jo and Bill moved to California, where Bill continued his work in produce and Jo began her career as an educator. During this time, Bill and Jo raised and showed pedigreed English Cocker Spaniels along the West Coast, not to mention three children: William Earle, II, business and agriculture; Juliette, civilian and military therapist, and Christine, artist and college teacher. Jo's son Will married Ann, with whom he had four sons, Jo's beloved grandchildren: Taylor, Brock, Colson, and Brandt. In 1955, the family settled in Idaho, where Jo became a popular teacher, women's sports coach and sponsor of the "Tigerettes," a champion dance drill team. Jo helped her husband establish several companies in the agricultural industry, including the first William Anderson Co. and Beaver Creek Ranch Corp. She loved the land. While Jo, who had a green thumb, worked in her gardens, Bill worked to help pass protective "Grown in Idaho" legislation for the Idaho Golden Russet and to improve the packing industry with new designs for sizing equipment. Jo and Bill also developed "Wellhouse," a highly ranked, registered Aberdeen Angus breeding herd. At the time of Bill's death in 1975, he was Managing Partner of the then-largest certified-seed growing, packing, and shipping enterprise in the world. More importantly, he became a follower of Christ before he died. In 1987, Jo married Dr. Henry Brandt, Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Relations from Cornell University and pioneer in the field of Christian counseling. Jo supported Henry in his work as a clinical therapist, global conference speaker, and author of over eleven books, including The Heart of the Problem and Soul Prescription, co-authored with the late Dr. William Bright, founder of Cru, until the end of Dr. Brandt's 35-year battle with Parkinson's Disease at the age of 92. Jo faithfully nursed both husbands through terminal illnesses. Jo, a woman of deep faith in Christ, loved the Bible and her church. A Christian at the age of ten, she later taught Sunday and Vacation Bible School. An affectionate and generous person, she inspired many with her patience in the midst of adversity. After the death of her first husband, Bill, she became active in Christian Women's Club, often hosting missionaries and large faith-based events in her home. A gracious hostess, she always had room for one more at the table. No meal ever went unblessed, and, as with the Proverbs 31 woman, "Her children rise up and bless her." God bless you, Mom! A funeral was held October 25 at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Juno Beach, Florida. Letters to the family or memorials may be sent to Henry Brandt Ministries, 196 Leistiko Road, Sun River, MT 59483.
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