John Robert Brandenburg

John Robert Brandenburg passed away on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 in Waterloo. He was born on November 11, 1953, in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of John Edward and Anna Frances (White) Brandenburg. As a young child, John and his family moved to Florida and in 1970, the family relocated to Colorado. John graduated from high school in Colorado, in 1971. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he worked as an airplane mechanic at the Clovis Air Force Base in New Mexico, during the Vietnam conflict. After his stint in the military, he moved back to Florida and began working for Martin Marietta in the space shuttle program.

John moved to Iowa and went on to further his education at Hawkeye Community College and graduated with an associate of arts degree in 1998, obtaining his A & P license. He worked for Swieter Aircraft in Waterloo following his college graduation, and in 2006, he started work for John Deere in Waterloo, where he worked as a Product Development Specialist; he retired on March 31, 2022.

When John wasn't busy working, he enjoyed refurbishing cars, cooking, vegetable gardening, NASCAR, watching rocket launches, was an avid sports fan including the St. Louis Cardinals and the Denver Broncos, and enjoyed watching true crime and history shows. John was very caring, compassionate, and was a genuine person; he was his parents' primary caregivers for many years. He would do just about anything for anyone and his grace and selflessness made an impact on those around him. In death, he gave as selflessly as he did in life; being an organ donor, to help others in need. He will be dearly missed by those he leaves behind.

John is survived by his sisters Nancy Davenport of Chatsworth, GA, Paula (Mel) Nordentoft of Melbourne, FL, Jan (Tom) Nichols of Evansdale, and Sharon (Steve) Nordentoft of Highlands Ranch, CO; 10 nieces and nephews; several great-nieces and nephews; aunts Wilma Brandenburg, Evelyn Ford, and Elizabeth Brandenburg. He was preceded in death by his parents; niece Lindsay Nichols; several aunts and uncles.

A memorial service for John will be held on Tuesday, May 9th at 11:00 AM at Locke at Tower Park, 4140 Kimball Ave., Waterloo, Iowa. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Inurnment will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the family. For memories of John or messages of condolence, please visit www.lockefuneralservices.com