Terrence Carlton Brandenburg

As a teenager, he outran a bull and escaped by jumping the barbed wire fence on his family’s Foster, Indiana farm, later he dashed to Covington High records in both 100 and 220 yards, both of which stood for over a decade, and then sprinted for touchdowns past slower defenses his senior year as a halfback for an undefeated football team, but his earthly race ended in Layton, Utah on July 27, 2022 with his wife and son by his side.  Terence “Terry” Carlton Brandenburg, husband of Karen for 63 full and fruitful years, son of Charles and Nila, brother of Steven and Hester Ann (Vos), father of Kim (Keller), Kent, and Kris, grandfather of fifteen, and presently great grandfather of ten, left the starting blocks at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Danville, Illinois on December 3, 1939, while the rest of the world warred with Nazi Germany.  He said his mother could beat him down their one mile gravel driveway, but as a little boy he chased the bombers and fighters overhead, flying from a nearby Air Force base.

 

High school sweethearts, Terry and Karen (Pettit) began their life together in a small apartment, while he worked at Olin Corporation outside of town, a job he held for the next seventeen years.  His central focus during that time became another Person, his Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.  Even though he loved kayaking on Sugar Creek, throwing a football to his sons, watching them play little league on the diamond at Covington Park, and his daughter on her saxophone in the marching band, nothing surpassed his loving fellowship and work in and through First Baptist and then Maranatha Baptist Church.  As his life changed for his Lord, he committed to sell his home and move to Watertown, Wisconsin to graduate from Bible college in preparation for full time service.

 

Upon receiving a Masters degree in Bible, Terry stayed in Watertown to teach Bible, Greek, and coach football and basketball in the Academy and track and field in the college.   He and Karen  left for him to teach upper elementary in Tempe, Arizona for three years before his son, Kent, now pastor in El Sobrante, California asked him in 1989 to serve as principal of a K-12 Christian school, Bethel Christian Academy.  Terry and Karen poured out their hearts and lives in the Bethel Baptist Church for the next thirty years, serving the Lord with family in a multitude of capacities.  They moved with son and daughter-in-law in 2020 during the pandemic to plant a church in Southern, Oregon.  After the last eleven months of his life in Clearfield, Utah, he crossed the finish line for his heavenly prize.

 

Many would testify of the cheerful countenance, hard working dedication, and faithful commitment of Mr. B.  Even though his family and friends will sorely miss him, through those he led, taught, and influenced, Terry Brandenburg leaves lasting fruits of his labor all over the United States and beyond.