The perfect and eternal rest the Savior promises to all His believers (see Matt. 11:28-30) received the focus of attention at the funeral of Karl Brandle on Tuesday, February 21, 1995. The funeral service was conducted by Pastor Mark Bernthal whom Karl had so ably assisted for many years as assistant pastor at Gethsemane, Saginaw, Michigan.
Karl J. Brandle was born in Saginaw on February 20, 1933. He was also baptized and confirmed there, his confirmation verse being the comforting words of the Savior: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” The Lord led Karl to deepen his understanding of the Christian faith by attendance at Michigan Lutheran Seminary (high school) in Saginaw, and Northwestern College in Watertown, Wis. In 1958 he was graduated from the Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis., and the same year (June 21) he was united in holy wedlock with Margaret Larsen.
Karl proclaimed publicly the perfect and eternal rest that is in Jesus during his years in the ministry. His first pastorate was at Lake City, Minn. In obedience to the Word of God he was moved to leave his former fellowship and join the Church of the Lutheran Confession. After several months of secular employment he was called to St. Paul’s of Winner. So. Dak. in May 1962. In 1967 he and his family moved to Saginaw and joined Gethsemane Lutheran Church. He twice served the congregation as its vacancy pastor. Since 1984 he had owned and operated a printing business in Saginaw.
Karl was received into the perfect rest that Jesus gives on Friday, February 17, at the age of 61 years. Left to mourn his passing, yet also to rejoice in his salvation, are his wife Margaret; his daughters and their spouses, Kathy and Dan Barthels (Saginaw, Mich.), Susan and Gary Meyer, and Sara and Michael Schierenbeck (Eau Claire, Wis.); two sons, David Brandle, and Michael Brandle and his fiance Kathryn Peterson of Eau Claire. There are eleven grandchildren. One son, Timothy, preceded his father in death.
“We give thanks to our Lord for His many blessings showed upon our brother in Christ during his earthly journey. We also thank our Lord for the glorious rest and peace that Karl now enjoys in his heavenly home…” (Gethsemane Church bulletin).
— Pastor Paul Fleischer