Brandt, Herbert J. (1924-2025)

Herb and Anne Brandt
Source: Family

Herbert "Herb" Jacob Brandt: minister and conference leader; born 15 October 1924 in Greenfarm, Saskatchewan, the fourth of twelve children of Johann K. Brandt and Anna (Thiessen) Brandt. Herb married Anne Kroeker (6 September 1929, Coaldale, Alberta, Canada – 8 March 2019, Delta, British Columbia, Canada) on 1 September 1951 in Vancouver, British Columbia. They had four children: Roger, Janet, Frances, and David. Herb died on 13 February 2025 in Abbotsford, British Columbia at the age of 100.

When Herb was young, drought and the Great Depression forced his family to move from Greenfarm, near Herbert, to Willow Lake and then to Dalmeny, Saskatchewan, before moving once again in 1938 to Reinland, Manitoba, where both sets of grandparents had first settled in 1903 after immigrating to Canada from Ukraine. Sunday school had a strong influence on Herb during his childhood, but despite the pressures he felt he was not ready to make a commitment to Christ until 1941 at the age of 16.

His father was his teacher for his first years of schooling. He attended Mennonite Collegiate Institute for high school, graduating in 1943. He then served as a conscientious objector during World War II at the Brandon Mental Hospital for three years and as a teacher at West Favelle School, a one-room schoolhouse, for one-half year. Both experiences had a major influence on his life. After alternative service he was baptized on 24 August 1947. He attended Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta and graduated in 1950.

After Brandt’s marriage to Anne Kroeker in 1951, they lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he received teacher training at the Provincial Normal School and graduated in 1952. He later attended the University of British Columbia and graduated in 1962 with a B.A. in history and a minor in geography. He taught school and became a vice principal in Vancouver for ten years. Herb and Anne were also involved in ministry to the disadvantaged in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, where they taught Sunday school and Daily Vacation Bible School at the Pacific Grace Mission, and served meals and gave devotionals at the Union Gospel Mission.

In 1961 Brandt was asked to be the pastor of the newly formed Killarney Park Mennonite Brethren Church. In 1966, after providing a home for numerous foster children, he and Anne chose to adopt their fourth child, David, who was an infant at the time. David's arrival brought much joy to the family. Herb's last formal schooling was at Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor of Divinity.

Herb pastored the Killarney Park Mennonite Brethren Church (1961-1970), the Richmond Bethel Mennonite Brethren Church (1970-1983), the Kelowna (or Willow Park) Mennonite Brethren Church (1984-1989), and the Fraserview Mennonite Brethren Church (1990-1991). He and Anne ministered together for over 35 years.

Brandt held several Mennonite Brethren Conference leadership positions from 1963 to 1990. Others recognized his gifts and encouraged him to take positions that he was reluctant to take. Brandt served as assistant moderator (1963-1964, 1970-1971) and moderator (1965-1967, 1972-1973) of the British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, assistant moderator (1976-1977) and moderator (1973-1975) of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, and assistant moderator (1981-1984) and moderator (1984-1990) of the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.

In his retirement years Brandt enjoyed volunteering for Delta Assist as a friendly visitor and driver, serving as president of the Fraserview Mennonite Brethren Seniors Club, writing, reading, gardening, playing games, taking daily walks, travelling, and being with his family and friends.

Herb would want to be remembered first and foremost for his faith in God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Lord of his life. His love for God, his love for his family, and his love and concern for others were central in his life. His message for his family and friends was to walk humbly with God and among people and to recognize the greatness of God in His forgiveness.

Wherever he pastored, his goals and priorities were learning to know the people. He made many home visitations and together with Anne hosted many people in their home. For him there was nothing more important - and difficult - than prayer with and for people who were hurting.

Bibliography

"Brandt, Herbert Jacob." Obituary. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/herbert-brandt-obituary?id=58614739

Author(s)	Fran Redekop
	Richard D. Thiessen
Date Published	December 2025

Cite This Article

MLA style

Redekop, Fran and Richard D. Thiessen. "Brandt, Herbert J. (1924-2025)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. December 2025. Web. 19 Jan 2026. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Brandt,_Herbert_J._(1924-2025)&oldid=181404.

APA style

Redekop, Fran and Richard D. Thiessen. (December 2025). Brandt, Herbert J. (1924-2025). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 19 January 2026, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Brandt,_Herbert_J._(1924-2025)&oldid=181404.

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