Sheldon John Brandtjen, 82, of Egg Harbor died Thursday morning (June 28, 2012) at his home, moving on in spirit after a full healthy life.
Shel was born on March 27, 1930, in Milwaukee, WI, the son of Frederick C. and Margaret (Neumeister) Brandtjen. He graduated from Shorewood High School and then received a Bachelors of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from UW-Madison.
In 1953, he married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Huhn. His first job after graduation was at Caterpillar, Inc. This led to his assignment as an officer in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers in Japan.
After serving in the army, Shel designed and built a vacation cottage by hand in the north woods on Two Sisters Lake. His efforts there continue to be enjoyed by the generations after him.
Successful in his career, Shel was Chief Engineer at Northwest Engineering Company in Green Bay, WI and Director of Engineering at Leach Company in Oshkosh, WI.
After retirement Shel resided in Door County while spending winters in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Shel was a wonderful husband and provider. He deeply loved and was loved by his wife and family. Through the years his passion was always boating and he took meticulous care of his boat, "Sea Caper," at the marina.
His talent for landscape architecture transformed his 17 acres at "Ledgeview" into a paradise of trails, vistas, and special places. He spent many enjoyable hours riding on one of his three tractors maintaining the beauty.
Shel is survived by his wife, Barbara Brandtjen of Egg harbor; his children, Bonnie FitzGerald of Manitowoc, Barb (Barry) Rodgers of Algoma, and Jim (Sue) Brandtjen of Green Bay; his grandchildren, Lauren (Jake) Le Cloux (and their son Ethan) of De Pere, Jeffrey Brandtjen of Minneapolis, MN, Ian (Renee) Fitzgerald (and their daughter Autumn) of Wrightstown, Kyle Brandtjen of Green Bay, Mallory Mahaffey of Eagan, MN, Shelley Fitzgerald of Broomfield, CO, Christina Brandtjen of San Diego, CA; and former son-in-law Jim Fitzgerald of Manitowoc.
Funeral services will be held at Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, July 2, 2012. There will be visitation at the funeral home from 11:00 a.m. until the time of funeral services at 1:30 p.m.
Shel Brandtjen was an engineer with an artist's eye. His family knew him as a mentor and role model full of generosity, wisdom, and wit. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. So many wonderful memories.
Sign online guestbook and offer condolences at http://www.huehnsfuneralhome.com/.
