Joyce Marie Brandt, daughter of Claude and Marie (Lawrence) Heathcote, was born on October 12, 1926, in Elyria, Ohio, and was called home to be with her Lord on June 26, 2018. She loved riding her bike, learning how to sew, and reading Bible stories.

Joyce met her future husband, Rudolph (Rudy) C. Brandt, when he was the vicar at her home church, St. John's Lutheran Church in Elyria. They were married after Rudy graduated from the seminary in June 1947. They moved to Lock Haven, PA, where Rudy's first call sent him. Linda was born there in 1948. A call to Valley City, Ohio, was accepted a year later, which gave them a new home close by Joyce's family. There Kathy ('49), Eugene ('51), Charlotte ('53), and Peter ('55) were born. This rural setting provided a good home for the family prior to their call to a new mission church in Bowling Green, KY in the spring of 1962, where the children lived their later childhood. Joyce sewed all the girls' and many of the boys' clothes. She read Bible stories every night to the children. She encouraged games and taught the girls how to sew.

Joyce, lovingly called "Mumbo," always got up early and had a cup of coffee while she read her Bible and did her devotion. She was an excellent seamstress, loved to cross stitch and quilted with the best. She and Rudy enjoyed playing bridge. Grandkids remember her engaging them in all kinds of games and helping put together many jigsaw puzzles. Everyone values the cross-stitch gifts she made for them. She was the primary preschool teach when the school started at Holy Trinity and she led many women's Bible studies and ensured involvement with the LWML.

Preceding Joyce into eternal life are her husband Rudy, her older brothers- Lawrence (Larry) and Harold (Archie), her grandsons, Steven Olsen and Kevin Brandt (Gene and Gayle's son). She is survived by her younger sister, Dolora (Dolly) Roth; children- Linda (Bob) Olsen, Kathy (Frank) Stith, Eugene (Gayle) Brandt, Charlotte (Mike) Evans, Peter (Cindy) Brandt; grandchildren- David (Adrienne) Olsen, Felecia (Andrew) Gillham, Sonya (Matt) Williams, Natalie (Chris) Franke, Derek (Paulina) Brandt, Trevor (Emily) Brandt, Kim (Matt), Cameron, Katie (Josh) Weirich, Jonathan (Danielle) Cummins, Jared (Adriane) Brandt, and Justin (Emily) Brandt plus twenty-three great grandchildren from all these families.

Funeral service is Saturday, June 30, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church with burial at Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday, June 30, 2018 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Funeral arrangements under the direction of Johnson Vaughn Phelps Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran School at 553 Ashmoor Drive, Bowling Green, KY 42101.