December 30, 1930 – May 27, 2025

John Brands, 94, of Edgerton, Minn., passed away Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Edgebrook Care Center. Funeral services were held Monday, June 2, 11:00 a.m., at the Christian Reformed Church, Luverne, Minn., with Pastor Joe Steenholdt officiating. Darlene Dreessen was the organist. The congregational hymns were: Blessed Assurance, Softly & Tenderly, and It Is Well With My Soul. Casket bearers were Austin Brands, Tyler Brands, Nathan Brands, Adam Brands, Bailey Fey, and Keegan Fey.

Interment was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

John Brands was born on December 30, 1930, to Evert and Fannie (Drie-sen) Brands in rural Rock Valley, Iowa. He attended country school near Jasper, Minnesota, and enjoyed fishing with his dad and riding bicycle whenever he could.

While courting his future wife, Mary, together they enjoyed spending evenings roller-skating and square skipping. John and Mary were united in marriage on March 25, 1954, at her parents’ home near Ellsworth, Minnesota. Together, they moved to various farmsteads in southwest Minnesota before settling in 1965 on an acreage west of Kenneth, Minnesota.

John and Mary faced the heartbreaking loss of their first three children, Freida May, Walden Lee, and Frieda Lenae, at the young ages of 2, 7 and 6. Despite their grief, their faith remained steadfast, shaping their lives and guiding them through difficult times.

In the early 1990s, John retired from dairy farming, but continued crop farming until 2010. He and Mary transitioned to an apartment in Edgerton in the fall of 2015. In August 2023, John became a resident at Edgebrook Care Center where he passed on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at the age of 94 years, 4 months, and 28 days.

A member of the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne, John exemplified quiet strength and unwavering faith. His presence was felt not through his words, but through the way he lived—leading by example, dedicating every Sunday to worship, and ensuring Bible readings and prayer were shared at every meal. John found joy in spending time with family, fishing, and attending tractor pulls, as well as annual visits to Farmfest and the Spencer Fair.

John’s legacy lives on in his wife, Mary; their six children, Elwin (Norma) Brands of Edgerton,  Linda (Brian) DeWeerd of Garvin, Minn., Wayne Brands of Beaver Creek, Minn., Darwin (Janine) Brands of Luverne, Verlyn Brands of Kenneth, and Cheryl (Michael) Fey of Sioux Falls, S.D.; 17 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Rolena Dooyema, Hank (Marlene) Brands, Harry (Marilyn) Brands, Bernie (Susan) Brands; and many nieces, nephews, and other family members.

John was preceded in death by his children, Freida May, Walden Lee, and Frieda Lenae; granddaughter, Ashley Ann Von Holtum; siblings, Johanna Brands, James (Hattie) Brands, Gerrit Brands, Gerrit (Hattie) Brands, Henrietta (Gerrit) Van Dyke, Edward (Marcene) Brands, Lorraine (Albert) Van Dyke, and Frances (John) Groenewold, as well as his brother-in-law, Harvey Dooyema.