Aaron Wilbur "Bill" Brandt

Aaron Wilbur “Bill” Brandt, 92, passed away on Monday September 16, 2024 at Bethany Village in Mechanicsburg. 

Bill was born February 6, 1932 in Evanston, Illinois, the son of Florence Wynne Cameron Brandt and Aaron Wilbur “Bill” Brandt.

He was a graduate of Evanston Township High School where he played on the baseball team, was manager and student trainer for the football team, and a member of the Wildkit student chorus. Bill was also active in the YMCA and spent a number of summers working as a camp counselor and swimming instructor at Camp Echo in Fremont, Michigan. 

He majored in political science with a minor in American history at the University of Illinois and was a member of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. 

After college, Bill worked for 40 years in the insurance industry in Chicago, Denver, Memphis, Salt Lake City, and finally Harrisburg. He spent the last 23 years of his career leading the Harrisburg office of Ohio Casualty Insurance.

In 1960, he married Mary Jean Radke in Denver, Colorado. They were married for 44 years. Bill and Mary loved to travel and visited Europe, Russia, Australia, Japan, China, and many other countries. They also enjoyed attending elder hostels around the country at various colleges and universities. 

Bill was a member and elder at Christ Presbyterian Church in Camp Hill. A member of the choir for 42 years, he also served on the church Session. He volunteered at Harrisburg Hospital’s Surgical Services Department for 22 years and also donated his time to Downtown Daily Bread. 

Known for his friendliness, good humor, and love of history and politics, Bill had many hobbies. A lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, he was ecstatic when the team won the World Series in 2016 after years of misery. An avid Civil War history buff, he was a member of Harrisburg Civil War Roundtable and toured many of the battlefields around the country. Bill also enjoyed singing in the Harrisburg Keystone Capital Barbershop Chorus for many years. 

 At Bethany Village, he served on the Residence Council for six years as Communications Chairman and sang in the Bethany Village Men’s Chorus. 

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary, and brother Peter Cameron Brandt of Evanston, Illinois.

He is survived by his daughter Wendy Hefflefinger (Dave) of Hummelstown; son Dave Brandt (Heather) of Silver Spring, MD; grandchildren Ellyn Hefflefinger Rothgeb (Chris) of Richmond, VA; Ian Hefflefinger of Syracuse, NY; Lydia Brandt of Silver Spring, MD; Wesley Brandt of Bellingham, WA; great-grandson Hugo Rothgeb, and his beloved cat Heidi.

A private memorial graveside service will be held at Christ Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Christ Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 421 Deerfield Rd, Camp Hill, PA 17011 and Bethany Village Care Assurance Fund, 325 Wesley Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.