James F. Brand, age 73, a resident of Wheaton for 40 years, died Tuesday, May 9, 2006 at the Central Du Page Hospital in Winfield. He was born on April 5, 1933 in Senica Falls, NY to Ernest and Gladys Brand.

Jim was a veteran of the US Navy, having served as a Radioman for Patrol Squadron 23 during the Korean War. In 1961 he joined Bell Labs in NJ. He transferred to Bell Labs in Naperville in 1966 and retired from there in 1989. At Bell Labs Jim ran the Garden Club and the Camping Club. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers.

In retirement, he joined the Kiwanis Club of Wheaton where he actively participated in projects such as building Wheaton's Safety City, worked at Sunny Ridge, and Exploremore Days at four Wheaton Grade Schools. He has been a member of Gary United Methodist Church since 1967, where he served as an usher, a trustee, worked at Bethlehem Marketplace, was a member of the Gary Gardeners and Gary Walking Group, and most recently has been an active member of the "Cornerstone of Faith" building program.

For all his volunteer services to the City of Wheaton, he was named "Citizen of the Year" in 2004.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Lorrie, three children, James II (Sharon) Brand of Wheaton, Larry (Joanne) Brand of Glenview, and Meridith (Mike Chasar) Brand of Iowa City, Iowa, three grandsons, Clayton, Nathaniel and Andrew, 5 siblings, Edith Odell, Gene Brand, Fay Lawrence, Mary Helen Dinsmore and Ken Brand, and special niece, Frances Fiermonte.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings, Gordon, Richard, Hope Sigrist and Carol Scott.

A memorial visitation will be held on Monday, May 15th, from 4 until 8 p.m. at the Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St. in Wheaton. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 21 at 3:00 p.m. at Gary Memorial United Methodist Church, 224 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL 60187.

Memorials may be directed to the church building program.