Industry Mourns Passing of Glen Brandt
Glen Albert Brandt, founder of iconic Illinois retailer BRANDT, Inc., passed away peacefully at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL early Sunday morning. He was 94.
Glen Brandt, founder of Illinois retailer BRANDT, Inc., passed away June 7, 2020.
Born on March 19, 1926 in Farmingdale, IL, Glen (G.B. to his friends and colleagues) was the quintessential entrepreneur and a true pioneer in the field of fluid fertilizer. G.B. is survived by his sisters Evelyn Brandt Thomas and Shirley Brandt Hagen, his son Rick (Kristie) and his daughter Terri Gustafson (Tom) and four grandchildren (Sierra-Shae Brandt, Alex Gustafson, Will Gustafson and Joe Gustafson), a niece, a nephew, many cousins and special care giver, Janet Zeigler. G.B. is the son of Albert and Margaret Bomke Brandt; he married Peggy Eileen Carter on September 5, 1960.
In 1953, G.B. founded the business that would become BRANDT, Inc. when he began custom-applying anhydrous ammonia for local farmers. He was using a tractor borrowed from his father; he was only 27.
Glen briefly attended Springfield (IL) Junior College before enlisting in the US Merchant Marines in 1944. He returned home after three years of service to help his father farm but was drafted into the Army in 1950 to serve in Korea. After two years with the 27th Regiment of the 25th Division, he was honorably discharged. He returned to Pleasant Plains to continue farming with his father.
Starting in 1953, Glen lead a line of companies that would become BRANDT, Inc. From Brandt & Gardner Gas Station to Brandt’s Fertilizer Service to Brandt Chemical Company to Brandt Consolidated, Inc., Glen presided over the company’s rapid growth and set a vision for the future. Glen stepped aside as CEO of Brandt’s Fertilizer Service and Brandt Chemical company in 1986, at age 60, to serve as chairman of the board. In 1990, Glen oversaw the formation of Brandt Consolidated, Inc., the company that became BRANDT, Inc. in January 2020.
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