Raymond Brandau

Raymond Walter Brandau, 89, formerly of Rural Manhattan, died Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at Miller Rehabilitation at Sojurn in Kankakee, IL.

He was born May 14, 1924 in Blue Island, IL, the son of the late Walter and Lillie (Bettenhausen) Brandau. He married the late Elaine (Doss) Brandau on June 15, 1947 at the Tinley Park Methodist Church, Tinley Park, IL. They began their new life in Mokena, IL. Raymond worked as a farmer and at a wallpaper factory and Elaine commuted to Chicago by train to work in an office. Around 1951, they moved to rural Monee where Raymond continued farming and raised beef cattle. He also owned Brandau Trucking, a one-man operation in which he hauled and spread limestone, sand and fertilizer. In addition, he also sold corn-fed beef. In the early 1970's the family moved to rural Manhattan where Raymond continued farming, raising beef cattle and operated his trucking business. He farmed until his health would no longer permit it.

He was a former member of the Tinley Park Methodist Church, St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Monee, and the Deselm United Methodist Church. He was a current member of the Wilton Center Federated Church in Wilton Center. Ray enjoyed people and was very outgoing. He always wanted to know where you were from and if you knew some of the same people he knew. He enjoyed following auto racing inspired by the family tie to Bettenhausen racing, bowling, and was a member of the Moose Lodge from 1976-1997. He was also a member of the Illinois Farm Bureau. Above all else, his greatest interest was farming.

Visitation will be held at the Fedde-Helfrich-Cross Funeral Home on Friday, September 27 from 3:00-8:00 p.m. with the funeral service at the funeral home on Saturday, September 28 at 10:00 a.m., Pastor Judith Sherk officiating. Burial will follow at Tinley Park Methodist Church Cemetery in Tinley Park. Memorials to the Wilton Center Federated Church or Hospice of Kankakee Valley would be appreciated.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Alice (Keith) Niemeyer of Grant Park; two sons, Larry Brandau of Manhattan and John (Kathy) Brandau of Manhattan; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth (Norma) Brandau of Tinley Park.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Lillie Brandau; his wife of 51 years, Elaine; an infant daughter, Joyce Elaine; an infant son, Allan Ray, his brother Ervin; and two sister-in-laws, Delores and Terry.