Claude Brandtner

OSKALOOSA, Iowa -- Claude J. Brandtner, 93, of Oskaloosa, died Saturday, April 7, 2012, at the MHP Hospice Serenity House.

He was born April 5, 1919, at Albany, Minn., the youngest child of Alex and Katherine Nies Brandtner. He graduated from the Ellsworth, Wis., High School with the class of 1937. He then attended River Falls College at River Falls, Wis., for two years. He then served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II and received the Purple Heart.

On Oct. 24, 1944, Claude was united in marriage to Kathleen J. Gagnon at Maple Lake, Minn., and Kay died July 1, 2008. They moved to Oskaloosa in 1963 from Marion, Iowa, and Claude was the auditor for the Hawkeye Lumber Co. until retiring in 1984.

In retirement, he continued to work part time at Hawkeye Lumber until 2009. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, the Elks, the American Legion and the VFW. Claude enjoyed golfing, playing cards, watching sports, traveling, was a good athlete in his younger days, and enjoyed being an umpire, and always "called 'em as he saw 'em!"

His family includes two daughters and their husbands, Susan and George Hodoly of Omaha, Neb., and Claudia and Steve Martin of Oskaloosa; two sons and their wives, Tom and Jackie Brandtner of Cape Girardeau and Alex and Kathy Brandtner of Bettendorf, Iowa; 11 grandchildren, Tricia Herdman, Brandt Hodoly, Jennifer Vacek, Chad Martin, Katie Martin, Sara Pullen, Brian Brandtner, Tom Brandtner, Mike Brandtner, Allie Brandtner and Molly Brandtner; 16 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Louise Henrikson of Florida.

Besides his wife, Claude was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter-in-law, Joyce Sloan Brandtner; two brothers, Norbert and Alex Brandtner; and seven sisters, Clara Dinndorf, Eleanor and Hilda Brandtner, Angie Boyce, Marie Scherer, Monica Dusek and Ann Baker.

Visitation will be at 11 a.m. today at Bates Funeral Chapel; the family will be at the chapel from 5 to 7 p.m. today to greet friends and relatives. A rosary will be recited at 7:15 p.m. today at the funeral chapel.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oskaloosa, with the Rev. Jeffry Belger officiating, and the Rev. Thomas Spiegel concelebrating.

Burial will be in the St. Mary's Cemetery with graveside military rites given by members of the Oskaloosa VFW and the American Legion.

Memorials may be designated to either St. Mary's Church or to Mahaska Hospice.