Richard (Rick) J. Brandau, 82, of Holmen, passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

Rick was born on November 2, 1943, to Harold and Emogene (DeWitt) Brandau. He graduated from Wilton High School in 1961.

He worked at General Motors in Janesville, WI, before enlisting in the United States Air Force. He was honorably discharged in March of 1968.

On November 9, 1968, Rick was united in marriage to Carol Meseberg at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Wilton, WI. They lived in Janesville until 1977, when they relocated to Onalaska, WI, where Rick spent the next twenty-five years as a semi driver for United Parcel Service, retiring at the age of fifty-seven in 2001. During his retirement years, he spent his free time golfing, being a host parent for fourteen years to many ball players for the La Crosse Loggers, and finally retiring, again, from Dahl Automotive, where he worked as their courtesy driver for fourteen years.

Rick is survived by his wife Carol, daughter Emily (Daniel) Johnson of Galesville, and Sara of La Crosse; his four grandchildren, Haley (Wade) Melberg of Minneapolis, Ricki Lemke (Nate) of Green Bay, Camryn Lemke (Carter) of Holmen, and Rudolph Mashak of Galesville. He is also survived by his brother David (Cathy) Brandau of Wilton, sisters-in-law Jenny Westerman of La Crosse and Elaine McKee of Florida, and brother-in-law James Meseberg of Union Grove.

Rick is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Emogene Brandau, his in-laws, Vernon and Phoebe Meseberg, his brother Paul Brandau and his wife, Kristi, special sister Mary Ellen Brandau, nephew Matthew Brandau, great niece Ella Brown, brothers-in-law Robert Westerman, John McKee, and Paul (Darlene) Babbitt.

The family would like to extend thanks to Dr. Mary Morris, Palliative Care of Emplify Health, St. Croix Hospice Team, family, and friends (especially our “bingo” family) that were there for us during this time.

Funeral services will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1500 Sand Lake Road, Holmen, on Sunday, June 28th, with visitation from 11:00 a.m. until time of service at 1:00 p.m. Burial with military honors will follow at Green Mound Cemetery, rural Holmen.