Obituary: Brandt, Arnold B.
Age 88
(Age 88) Arnie, a beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather suc-cumbed to complications of prostate cancer at Spokane Hospice House on August 6, 2015, surrounded by his family.
Arnie was a man many considered a Legend in Aviation.
He developed a love for flying from the time he was a small boy and saw his first airplane fly over the family farm near Kramer, North Dakota.
He ran as far as he could to continue watching it.
Because of his genuine love of flying he often said, “There’s nothing else I’d rather do.”
He obtained his private pilot’s license while stationed in Alaska, serving in the USAF, and continued to fly well into his 80’s.
He served in the Merchant Marines, U.S. Army and U.S AirForce.
He flew many years as a corporate pilot for Potlatch Corporation until his retirement in 1986 and began flying for a number of other companies inlcuding Neil Degerstrom Construction and Tony Copeland Ford.
As a corporate pilot he flew many notable passengers, but stated “all my passengers were VIPs”.
In addition to flying corporate executives all over the country, Arnie made countless emergency flights.
If the hospital called and had an emergency, he’d fly the patients wherever they needed to go free of charge.
In the mid 50’s, along with Deputy Abe Frye, Arnie organized a search and rescue unit of the Nez Perce County Sheriff’s office, serving as its second Commander.
After the first Apollo mission returned, Arnie was asked to transport a priceless moon rock around the United States.
He and his son, Randy delivered a Lear Jet to Australia, traveling through Europe, the Mediterranean, Middle East, India, Saudi Arabia, Southeast Asia and Indonesia.
A keen observer of the space program, Arnie made sure his family and friends knew when the space station and NASA Shuttles would be visible in the evening sky.
Probably not coincidentally, as he was passing from this world, the space station was overhead.
We like to think he hitched a ride.
Arnie and LaDoris, along with many friends and family, created so many memories over the years with gatherings at their Rendevous II cabin on the Snake River.
They are long time members of the Hells Canyon Boat Club where Arnie served as Commodore and many other duties.
He was a member of the International Order of the Blue Gavel.
Arnie was the ultimate story teller and will be missed!
Arnie is survived by his wife LaDoris; her children Kellie (Mike) Carlson, Troy (Tiffany) Savage, Kirstin Savage, Brett Savage; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; he is also survived by his son Randy Brandt from his first marriage; brother Floyd (Mary) Brandt; sisters Virginia (Chet) Pojack, Diana (Ronnie) Brandt, Shirley (Floyd) Vormestrand.
He is preceded in death by his parents John and Pauline, brother Melvin and sister Bertha.
Funeral Services at Heritage Funeral Home, 508 N. Government Way, Spokane, Friday, August 21, 2015, 11:00am, with burial to follow in Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Visitation will be at Heritage Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 19th and Thursday, August 20th from 10am-5pm.
A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held at the Lewiston, ID airport in the “Old Potlatch Hangar”, 406 Burrell Ave., Sunday, August 23, 2015 at 1:00pm, Potluck lunch to follow - drinks, sandwiches and cake provided.
In lieu of flowers, Arnie requested contributions be made to the Wounded Warrior Project via its website.
Shortly before his passing Arnie commented he was “in a Lear Jet flying ILS into the unknown.”