Faye Margaret Brandt, beloved mother, highly skilled teacher, loyal friend, and compassionate care-giver for many people, passed away May 4, 2011 at the Ambassador nursing home in Nebraska City. Faye was a regular visitor and care giver to many of her friends at the same facility, where she eventually spent over 10 years receiving care herself. She was born in Nebraska City on May 25, 1915, the daughter of Herman and Alice Specht. She lived in Otoe County her entire life and married Ralph Brandt in November of 1937. She remained on the family farm near Otoe while raising two children and then later worked as a teacher in Otoe County. Ralph preceded her in death in July of 1978, and she remained at the farm till 1993, when she relocated to Nebraska City.

Faye will be remembered for her contributions to education in the Otoe County area. She taught rural school before her marriage and also taught in the Otoe and Syracuse school systems until January 1960. During this time she achieved her BA and her MS degree from Peru State Teachers College. In 1960 she changed her focus to the college level and began another career as a librarian. As an avid reader her entire life, the career change was nearly perfect in matching the right person with the perfect job. She eventually became the head of the library for Peru State, remaining tin that position until her retirement in 1985. After her retirement she set off to do something that she had always dreamed of doing, traveling to and visiting many countries. Faye sometimes took trips with her daughter Genene, with friends or sometimes with any person or group and reveled in seeing places she had only previously observed in a book or travel guide. Faye was always and active person, whether it was running track hurdles and playing catch in the back yard with her son as a young mother or doing extensive walking around her neighborhood and on her treadmill later on in life. Faye will be missed greatly by so many whose lives she touched.

In January of 2001, Faye was stuck down by a ruptured aortic aneurysm. Against all odds, she survived, but her body had been weakened, and she could no longer live by herself as she had in the past. At that time, she left her home to take an assisted living apartment at the Ambassador and eventually needed more care as a long term care patient.

Fay is survived by her children, a daughter, Genene Gude of Phoenix, AZ and a son, Bruce Brandt of Oklahoma City, OK, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday May 14, 2011 at 10 A.M. in the Fusselman-Allen-Harvey Chapel in Syracuse with the Rev. Mark Ekstrom officiating. Burial will follow at Park Hill Cemetery in Syracuse. There will be no viewing at her request and Memorials will be given to St. John's Lutheran Church in Otoe. There will be a light lunch at St. John's following the burial. The family would like you to share your memories of Faye with them. It is a time the family would cherish, a time to celebrate a life well lived.