John W. Brandt, 85, Fargo, died Tuesday, November 4, 2014 in Villa Maria, Fargo.

John was born March 26, 1929, to Milton and Susan (Bitz) Brandt in Carrington, North Dakota. He attended grade school and high school in Carrington, North Dakota, and the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton. He proudly served his country through the ND National Guard and the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.

On February 15, 1964, he was united in marriage to Swanie Tweet in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where they met. This marriage was blessed with two beautiful daughters. John and Swanie lived in Racine and Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Dickinson and Fargo, North Dakota, during their marriage.

John enjoyed a stellar management career in the farm equipment industry with Massey Harris, Massey Ferguson and John Deere, living in North Dakota, Montana, and Wisconsin. Upon his retirement, they moved to Fargo, where he continued collecting and focusing on his long-time hobby of farm toy collecting. He is well known throughout the country for his collection.

John was a member of the Masonic Order, and held life-time memberships with the El Zagal Shrine and the Elks Club.

John is survived by his wife Swanie and daughters and sons-in-law Carmen (Mitch, MD) Wolf of Shawnee, Oklahoma, and Allison (Chris) Offner of Frisco, Texas, and three grandchildren, Addison Offner, and Dylan and Gavin Wolf. He also is survived by his sister-/brother-in-law, Marie and Roland Schaper, Minneapolis, niece Michele (John) Mejia of Hillsboro, Oregon, and nephew Jeffrey Schaper of Minneapolis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Susan Brandt, brother, Milton L. Brandt, and aunt, Elsie Balerud.

Memorials are preferred to the Shrine Hospitals and Villa Maria Nursing Home.