tribute to cod

A Man of Service

Kenneth “Cod” Brandt dedicated his life to service; service to his country, service to his family, service to his community. He was a strong, caring man who was always placed others before himself.

               Cod was born in Postville, Iowa in 1923 to Ray and Melinda Brandt. Though He had many aunts and uncles, he and his older brother were the first generation of his family to graduate from high school. While he was a teenager, he had few small jobs working at a popcorn stand and a B&B clothing store.

               After high school, he was drafted into the army and sent to Europe to fight in World War II. During this time, Cod served under General Patton in the 8^th Armored Division of the European Theater and most notably fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a tank commander and was part of the reconnaissance group, which in his words meant “you go first.” He risked his life for his country everyday by being the first in the line of artillery. Reconnaissance soldiers went ahead of the rest to scout territory and were the ones to make contact with the enemy. Cod was willing to give his life for his country, a thing not all men can do.

               Once Cod came home, he got married and spent the rest of his life with a young woman named Betty Byrnes. Cod owned and operated gas stations for the majority of his life and later worked as an insurance adjuster after he retired. He was just an ordinary man in small-town Iowa.

               Cod did some extraordinary things, though. He and his wife did many things for their community, including the running of St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Store for 25 years, helping the less fortunate. Even after the store was no longer under their control, they stayed in contact with the new owners and constantly asked if they needed any help. They also drove by the store every day to check on it and see if there were any donations that needed to be taken care of. Cod served on the Board of Directors of the Food Shelf of Allamakee County, donated blood regularly, was a part of the Zoning Committee of Allamakee County, and donated to many causes in his community. He coordinated many Thanksgiving meals for the county and even helped give rides to the meal site. He was an excellent example of the qualities of devotion and respect. Many lessons can be learned from the way this man chose to live his life.

               In his community, Cod bought a run-down plot of land next to his gas station and fixed it up. This was one of the many projects he took on to better the community without being asked. The well-being of others was something that was constantly on his mind. He brought in new industry to Waukon which helped his small town prosper. Cod even aided his poverty-stricken Aunt Esther by buying her a trailer to live in. He did these things throughout his life all the while being humble. He never let anything stop him; not poor economic conditions, Alzheimer’s disease, or his three battles with cancer. He never let anything bring him down and was still smiling in the last days of his fourth and final fight with cancer. His service touched many people around him, and you can still see his kindness today in the beauty of his small town and in the gentleness of his family and neighbors.