Robert Henry Brands

Robert Brands was born October 1942, in Chicago Heights, Illinois to Wilmer and Helen Brands (Hintrager). He was the middle child of three and the only son. He attended elementary school at Trinity Lutheran in Crete where he was baptized and confirmed. He graduated from Crete-Monee High School in Crete, Illinois. He then went on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business from Knox College. He then completed a degree in accounting and one year of law school at the University of Illinois.

Robert Brands served in the army from 1964 to 1966 in Korea.

He married Rosanne Miller in 1969.  They settled in Park Forest and were members of Hope Lutheran Church. They had three children, John, Michael, and Elizabeth. He coached baseball and enjoyed taking the kids to the lake to go tubing. He divorced in 1984 and remained unmarried. At that time, he moved to Matteson, Illinois.

Most of his career was spent working for Cook County as an auditor. This position brought him to locations all over the city, which he enjoyed.

Robert Brands enjoyed traveling and experiencing different cultures. He often visited different neighborhoods in Chicago, dining at different restaurants. He liked to try out recipes for the food he had tasted at the restaurants. He traveled to Germany, Kenya, and made multiple trips to Mexico and multiple trips around the United States on the train including California, Washington, Colorado, and Arizona.

Robert Brands had a sharp memory, especially for numbers and history. He could hold a conversation with almost anyone. He enjoyed reading and continued to read even after becoming paralyzed in his arms.

He spent his last years at Manteno Veterans Home where he was known to be a good conversationalist and remembered many stories from history and current affairs.

Mr. Brands leaves behind the following: his children, John, Michael, and Elizabeth (Izaac) Ebeywa; his sisters, Betty Lou and Dorothy; his nephews, Bryan and Scott; and his grandchildren, Isabella, Sienna, Javulile, and Joash. He was preceded in death by his father Wilmer Brands, step-mother Adeline Brands, mother Helen Longtin and step-father Harry Longtin.

He was previously married to Rosanne Tadsen.