Personal Background
This memorial website was created by Lindsay Brandmeyer in loving memory of her brother, Justin Gerard Brandmeyer.
Justin was born on January 18, 1980 and sadly passed away on July 22, 2007 at the age of 27.
Justin was a huge fan of music. He was inspired by each song he listened to. Many bands that he loved were bands like Widespread Panic, Pearl Jam, String Cheese Incident, Jack Johnson and many many more. He would never limit himself to one genre of music. Justin was always adventurous and willing to explore the unknown. He went to many concerts and festivals including Bonnaroo Music Festival, which was one of his favorite get-a-ways. He always enjoyed traveling for a weekend of music and enjoyment.
Justin was the life of the party. He could turn a bad time into the time of your life and he always knew how to make everyone feel welcomed and comfortable. Justin always had such a big heart and truely cared for people (and animals).Justin's dog, Shiloh( who now lives with me, Justin's sister), would follow his every move. Shiloh would want to be right there with him no matter what he was doing at any moment. To this day, you can see that Shiloh truely misses the presence of his master and best friend.
When his daughter, Alayna Jean, was born in December of 2002, Justin found the true meaning of love. He worshiped her every move and was a natural at being a father. Justin will always be known in Alayna's heart as Daddy-o and he will be forever remembered as the most fun and loving father! They enjoyed Six Flags season passes every year and many trips to the Zoo and Science Center.
Justin is not only an amazing dad but also an amazing brother, son and friend. He was always there to to be a shoulder to cry on or give great advise. He always knew how to make you smile [ even if he was in one of his aggravating moods :) ] I always enjoyed a voicemail message from Justin because he always put a smile on my face with his upbeat and always unique message! He was one of a kind and the most genuine person in this world.
Justin is missed greatly by family and friends and will be remembered forever in our hearts and live on in our memories.
We love you and miss you! XOXO
One night I dreamed a dream.
I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes
from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one
belonging to me and one to my Lord. When the last scene of my life shot before
me I looked back at the footprints in the sand. There was only one set of footprints.
I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life. This always
bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.
"Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me
all the way. But I'm aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints. I just don't understand why, when I need You most, You leave me."He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you."
"If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I would walked right up to Heaven and bring you home again"
Latest Tributes
Like a brother - Oh Justin, how we loved to reminisce all the times in our lives we had so much fun as kids and adults. I am so lucky and proud to have you in my life. You are like a brother to me. We have known each other since we were three days old. What an amazing connection we always had. We enjoyed doing the same things and whenever we were together it was nothing but extreme fun. When I think back to us being kids I remember the excited feeling I would get when a family function would be coming up or if we were going to Grandma's to play. Sometimes I couldn't sleep the night before because I couldn't wait to see you. As we grew up, that feeling never went away. I would always tease myself that I was such a "kid" because I still couldn't wait to see you and spend time with you. We had so much fun in high school and we always managed to get a class or two together - and of course we had homeroom together every day for four years. And then of course we went to KC together. If I were to list my fondest memories it would be a never-ending list. A list of some of the happiest times in my life. You were always there for me. You helped me get through tough times and if I was sad you knew how to get me to smile. I can still feel you put your arm around me for comfort.
I still feel that comfort at times Justin. I feel it when I need it the most and I hope that I always get to feel your presence. I know in my heart that you are with us each and every day because you have made your presence known. Please continue to be with all of use who love you so much. We all need you in our lives.
Your daughter is amazing. She is so YOU. Her attitude, her behavior, how she can talk anyone into anything...she is beautiful and she loves her Daddy'O so much.
I can't wait to see you again Justin. I am no longer scared of death because I know you will be there waiting with a smile on your face. I love you. - from Jamie Jung
Justin's Eulogy - "Below is the eulogy I delivered for Justin. July 26, 2007
St. Bernard’s Church
Albers, Illinois
I cannot claim to know the mind of God nor speak for God at moments such as this, but I am humbled and honored to speak for the people gathered in this Church to pray with you Barb and Tom, Nathan and Lindsay. This Church is 100 years old this year. For a century, people of faith have brought their joys and their pains to God under this roof. Asking God to hold our pain and our joy and carve them into the stone and mortar of this Church so that we will always remember who we are and why we are here. We are here at St. Bernard’s Church to remember an important truth that we celebrate in this Eucharist - that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God made known to us in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Nothing in the past and nothing yet to come can separate us from God’s promise, “I love you and you are mine.” We just sang this together as we presented Justin’s gifts to the altar. We need each other to remember this promise, that is why we gather together to pray, to remember. We remember God’s love for us, our love for each other and our love for Justin. We remember Justin’s love for us; we remember his entire life, not only his final days here on earth. In this Church we remember Justin, who he is and what he means to us. There was a moment in the hospital last week when Barb wanted so much for the medical staff to know Justin as we know him. The SLU hospital staff was outstanding in their care for Justin and all of us. So when Barb turned to a doctor who was especially sensitive to Justin and our family, the Doctor said, “I know Justin was a good man, I can see this in your family. My brother committed suicide when I was young. I know and I understand what you are trying to say.” Justin was a special little boy, from his early years he loved to make people laugh. One of his more magical moments would be when the family was walking through their neighborhood or riding their bikes, he would say, “I smell a rabbit.” And behold within minutes, a rabbit would dart across the street. Justin was magical in the way he could make us laugh and make life appear beautiful and awesome.Nathan, you are such a good big brother. From childhood on you and Justin were best friends. When you were young, you were Justin’s interpreter; you alone knew Justin’s language. Justin would be talking and talking and none of us knew what he was saying. We would turn to you and you knew exactly what he said.Watching Justin and his brother and sister Lindsay grow up together was such a joy for me and for so many others. I remember our vacations and bar-b-que’s. What a beautiful family you are. Justin, Lindsay and Nathan are best friends, not all siblings can say that their best friend is their brother. I met a lot of Justin’s friends this week at the hospital, what a great group of people. You can tell a lot about a person by his friends. You guys and gals are the best. Thank you for being here. I know it means a lot to Barb and Tom that you are here today with us. Last night, I turned to one of Justin’s friends and I asked her to tell me something special about Justin. She simply said, “I never met a nicer guy than Justin. Nothing was too much to ask of him. He was generous and kind. Just ask Bobby, Vicky’s brother. At Shorty’s 70th anniversary celebration he asked Justin where he got the Shorty’s tee shirt. Justin said they were just for the family, so he took off his shirt and gave it to Bobby. Justin would literally give you the shirt off of his back. According to his friends, Justin was a sports statistical genius, just like his Uncle Clyde. Justin could calculate and report football and baseball statistics right from under his baseball cap, which he always wore. Justin knew more about statistics than I ever learned in my PhD program. I should have asked Justin to sit in for me for my statistics exams maybe I would have passed them! In ’05 he was the fantasy football champion. His trophy stands next to the altar this morning. I cannot pass up this opportunity to thank Scott, Justin’s friend, for being there for Justin. You two are buddies for life. I know that Barb and Tom love you and appreciate all that you are to Justin. I can just hear Justin right now saying to Scott. This is such a great conversation about a great conversation we had one night. Ask Scott or any of his friends, and they will tell you that Justin was a great conversationalist; always witty, quick to laughter, clever and spontaneous.Justin was a loving son, brother, friend and father. He and Susan brought Alayna into the world, a beautiful girl who is an ever constant reminder of Justin and Susan’s love for her. They are extraordinary parents and Alayna will carry on Justin’s spirit long into the future. Justin’s life cannot be summed up by remembering one day in his life or dwelling only on these past couple of weeks. Justin is so much more than this. So, we look not only to the past to gain comfort and strength, but we look to the future. Because of his death many of us in this Church will have a new chance with life. This is not going to be easy. What we are faced with is a matter of faith, hope and love. Faith that Justin’s death is not in vain, hope that we will some day understand and love that we remain close to each other. Those of us who dare to call ourselves Christian or Catholic we believe that there is more to Jesus’ crucifixion. There is more to the story than just his death. It does not end there. Something happened with Jesus during those three days in the tomb. As Justin was unconscious in the hospital I kept thinking about his days in the tomb. I kept reminding myself that there is more to the story. Just like Mary, the mother of Jesus and his friend John the apostle, we wait and we wait. And then Sunday there was resurrection, for Jesus and for Justin. Just ask Nathan. Justin let Nathan see clearly that his death is not the end of the story. I looked at Nathan and I saw new life and I can honestly say that resurrection became real to me on that Sunday. Just like the early apostles, at first I did not believe what I was seeing. So like the apostles we prepare for Pentecost. Fifty days, fifty weeks, fifty months, someday into the future we will speak a new language, we will be blessed with the fire of Pentecost and we will understand what our dying means, just like the apostles did. A language of love, of forgiveness, a language of hope and faith; our faith believes that no matter how cruel, how tragic death might be, death is not the end of the story. It is not the end of Justin’s story. So I invite everyone in this Church to expect a miracle to happen between today and Pentecost. Expect God to visit each of us in unexpected ways at unexpected times and in unexpected places. Expect a miracle, or two or three or a hundred. And so we need the strength and hope to believe this story of resurrection. As Catholics we have a long family tradition of asking Mary, our Lady of Sorrows, to be with us as our comforter and perpetual help. She held the body of her dying son in her arms. She knows. She understands. She will give us the strength to believe in miracles, even after death has occurred. Something good awaits those who believe and hope in God, that nothing can separate us from God’s love. Expect a miracle. I already smell a rabbit. "
- from Gary Behrman
JB forever - I have known justin since the first grade. Even at the age of 25, he would always ask me "what's the best party you have ever been to?". Yes justin you're right ok, it was your first grade birthday party at Brandy's in New Baden. We ate pizza and played video games till Tom ran out of quarters. It was special for me because it was the first birthday party i was ever invited to. One of the moments i love the most was sneaking you and my little brother into the 2006 World Series party. It was a great time because we both loved the Redbirds so much. Justin you're a great friend and I will miss the Madden games, the tennis ball, and all the other great times we had. Most of all I will miss you. - from Gary Reinhardt
Great Friend - Justin-You were such a wonderful friend to me and many others. I admired how you went out of your way in making each person feel special and loved. I was blessed to have you as a friend. I miss you Jill. - from Jill Kissinger
Latest Memories
Jamie Jung - I will always remember that Will Clark poster you loved so much and I took a picture of you with your baseball glove diving on the bed! We thought it was the coolest picture ever. All the games of basketball outside of Grandma's and how you always let me play on your team even though I was terrible. Painting Grandma's fence with you as the "crew chief." :) Climbing trees, going places with Gary, listening to Pearl Jam and talking baseball. Each moment I ever spend with you was special. Riding around with Hevner and aggravating him. Mr. Steinmann making us kneel or put our nose in a circle he drew on the chalk board because we always talked to each other during Algebra. Conversation was always so easy with you. Keep visiting me in my dreams. I miss you with my whole heart.
Lindsay Brandmeyer - I will never forget me and Justin's (and Alayna now love it)favorite book - "The Monster at the end of this book, starring loveable, furry old Grover" We use to think it was the funniest book ever!
Memories from Justin's babybook - Things mom, dad and Nathan would remember and maybe a few aunts and uncles:
Justin loves to have his diaper changed; he coos at the clown lamp... Justin is very good natured & friendly, he smiles & coos at everyone (especially mom, dad and Nate) at 4 1/2 months.
Justin said da-da at 5 1/2 months. He is very content and very fat... He is always smiling and laughing.
Justin loves his big brother Nathan, and tries to grab his diaper away. Justin gives big kisses to everyone.
At 16 months, Justin and Nathan play nice together, except when Justin doesn't get his way, he bites Nathan!!!
Justin started sleeping in Nathan's big bed with him at 18months and loved it! Mom would read 2 stories every night to them.
Justin's first words were: Dad, Bye-Bye, Hi, Nanee(Nathan(, Mine.
Justin's first hair cut was November 3, 1980 cut by mom- Justin was a "good boy"
At 18 months- Justin loves to ear Nathan's (clean) underpants on his head as a hat. (I think we have all seen the pictures- too funny- he always knew how to make us laugh!!!)
At age 2, Justin loved to be outside with daddy to cut the grass. His favorite expressions were "ick" and "goody"
At 2 1/2-- pickle= piss hole
-- apple= ass hole
At 3 year of age, Justin loved Cindy's race car.
At age 2-- Justin meets Spook- They were bestfriends instantly. Justin and Spook have now reunited in Heaven!
Tom Brandmeyer - Justin remember our many bike rides in Belleville when Nathan would ride his bike and you would ride with me on your bike seat and Lindsay with mom on her bike seat. Out of the clear blue you would say " I smell a rabbit". and sure enough we would all see a rabbit in a yard or running away. What a great memory to cherish. Little did we realize how special those moments would come to be. I miss you Pal.
Lindsay Brandmeyer - A week in South Carolina at Kris' condo!!! What a vacation... An aligator for a pet, Cold Corona, Friends & Family and last but not least renting a boat for a day! Justin always said "It was the best vacation ever" I agree and will NEVER forget the good times that we had there!