Kenneth Edwin Brandenburg, 81, of Vero Beach, passed away on Oct. 2, 2015.
He is survived by his life partner Zondra Rush; his son Chris (Gina); daughter Connie (Eli); two grandsons, Christian and Geoffrey; and brothers Delbert (Linda) of Hillsboro, Ohio and David (Marilyn) of Merritt Island, Fla.
Brandenburg was born in Oto, Iowa, the second son of seven sons to Carl and Hertha Brandenburg. He lived the farm life before leaving to join the Air Force where he spent four years at the tail end of the Korean War and left as an Airman First Class.
With the help of the GI Bill, he went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and a Master’s Degree at Florida International University. Though flying was his first love, he ended up with a career with Miami-Dade County Public Schools as a teacher, counselor and administrator. He kept his love of flying alive by being a flight instructor for many years. He retired from the school system in 1990 and enjoyed the next 25 years immensely.
He moved to Vero Beach in 2000, and enjoyed boating, travelling, the theatre, writing his annual Christmas “missives” and afternoons at the “V.” During his time in Vero Beach, he enjoyed teaching boating classes at the Power Squadron and volunteering with the Literacy Services of Indian River County, where he tutored English.
He was a member of the Vero Beach Veterans Club, American Legion Post #0039, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Power Squadron and Quiet Birdmen. As a Veteran, he was recently chosen to take part in the Space Coast Honor Flight to Washington D.C. but his tour never came up.
Celebration of Life will take place at the Vero Beach Vets on Nov. 15, 2015, from 1 to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, you may donate in his Memory to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
