Lyle Joseph John Brandsma

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Lyle Brandsma, age 88, died March 4, 2012 at Palisade Manor in Garretson. An early morning stroke became fatal by noon. Visitation and a lunch will be at Zion Lutheran Church in Garretson, from 11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. on Saturday, March 10, 2012. Celebration of his life will be at 1:00 P.M. following visitation. Burial will be near Egan at Hillside Cemetery.

Lyle Joseph John Brandsma was born December 21, 1923 near Flandreau, SD, to Leonal John and Mabel Belinda (Cook) Brandsma. When his mother died, two years later, he and his sister, Martha, went to live with their grandparents, John and Martha (Cameron) Brandsma. Lyle graduated from Egan Public School in 1941. He married Bonita Jean “Bonnie” Cochrane, May 14, 1944, and they farmed together until 1985. Bored with retirement, he started working in maintenance at Palisade Manor in Garretson and worked there for over twenty years.

Lyle loved his animals and his machinery. He could fix almost anything. He loved to sing, and sang at many weddings and funerals, etc. He loved his John Deere lawn mower and mowed several lawns in town. He loved WWE wrestling and Lawrence Welk. He loved his family.

Survivors include his children: Virginia (James) Solheim of Garretson, Michael (Diane) Brandsma of Renner, and John (fiancé Nancy) Brandsma of Brandon; 7 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sisters: Martha Koch of Jasper, MN, and Eloye (Bill) Farrell of Hartford; brother, LaMoyne (Twyla) Brandsma of Sioux Falls, many nieces and nephews; and an aunt, Martha Beck of Huron. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and an infant son, Rodney.