Ralph "Reggie" Brandes, age 69, of Brillion, passed away on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah. Reggie was born in Manitowoc on June 9, 1946, son of Ralph W. and the late Georgiana (Ebert) Brandes. He was a graduate of Brillion High School, class of 1964. On July 13, 2007, he married Denise Bratz in Manitowoc. Reggie worked a lot of places in his career. He started at Tecumseh in New Holstein. He went on to work at the Manitowoc Shipyards and ended his career at the Brillion Iron Works in their Maintenance Department. Reggie also owned and operated Reggie's Standard Service in Collins for many years. He was a member of the East Shores Sturgeon Seekers, the Vintage Chevy Club of America, the Massey Collectors Association, and Steam Engine Club, the Calumet Fun Truckers, and the Collins Paradise Sno Riders. Reggie was also a member of the Collins Fire Department from 1967-1982, ending there as a First Assistant Chief. Reggie was a family man, always loving and having time to spend with his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed golf cart rides, a cold Pabst Blue Ribbon, tinkering with his Massey tractors with Ryan, Keith and his friends, hunting up north in Mountain, stock car racing in Plymouth and Chilton and later watching Ryan, Damian, and Danica race, tractor pulling with Keith and Ryan and later watching Damian truck pull, and having his two labs Massey and Harris around. Reggie is survived by his wife Denise of Brillion; his two sons and daughter-in-law and their children: Keith of Collins and children: Damian and Danica and Ryan (Hayley) of Brillion and their daughter: Georgia; his father Ralph of Manitowoc; two brothers and two sisters-in-law: Randy (Deanna) of Chilton and Richard (Janet) of Collins; one sister and brother-in-law: Lorie (Arlyn) Eickert of Brillion; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Tammy (Mark) Thayse of Algoma, Dennis (Shanna) Bratz, Jr. of Whitelaw, Susie Braun of Whitelaw, and Roy (Carrie) Bratz of Valders; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many good friends. He was preceded in death by his mother: Georgiana on July 5, 1991, a brother Robert Paul Brandes on October 1, 1978, and his father-in-law and mother-in-law: Dennis and Betsy (Pingel) Bratz, Sr. Funeral Service will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, August 31, 2015 at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Brillion. Officiating will be the Rev. Ross Henzi and the Rev. Thomas Fricke. Burial will be in Trinity Ev. Lutheran Cemetery in Brillion. Friends may call at the church on Monday from 2:00 p.m. until 5:45 p.m. Online condolences may be made. In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated. The family would like to thank the Reedsville First Responders, the Valders Ambulance, Holy Family Memorial Medical Center of Manitowoc, Flight for Life, and the staff at Theda Clark for their care and compassion.
