Brandenberger, Dean (1946-1962)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Jul 19 p. 7

Birth date: 1946

text of obituary:

Tragedy Strikes Second Time

Fort Wayne, Ind. — Tragedy struck a Fort Wayne family the second time in less than two weeks when Dean Brandenberger, 16, son of D. J. and Elsie Shannon Brandenberger of Fort Wayne, was killed in a boating accident on Lake Wawasee near Syracuse. His uncle E. J. Brandenberger, who lived next door, drowned nine days earlier while their family was vacationing at Ocean City, New jersey.

Dean and a friend, Charles Trumbull, were in the Brandenberger boat near the cottage where they spend their week ends. As they changed seats at an estimated 25 miles per hour, the boat hit rough water and took a sudden turn, throwing both of the boys into the water. Trumbull stayed in the water so that the boat did not hit him, but Brandenberger came up and was sucked into the propellor [sic], severing his left leg at the pelvis and severely fracturing his right leg. He died from shock and loss of blood en route to the hospital.

Brandenberger was a member of the First Mennonite Church, president of the Youth for Christ Car Club, and a Junior at South Side High School. Besides his parents he is survived by two sisters, Deborah 12 and Doris 7; and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Brandenberger, RFD, New Haven.

A memorial service was conducted by the Mennonite Youth Fellowship and Youth for Christ at the McCombe Funeral Home the evening of July 10. Funeral services were held at the First Mennonite Church in charge of Pastor John R. Smucker, Rev. Paul Robbins, director of Fort Wayne Area Youth for Christ, and Pastor Jason Martin of the Wawasee Lakeside Chapel. Interment was at the Leo Cemetery.