The memorial service for Cole Brandenburger, Kulm, ND will be Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 10:30 AM at the Congregational Church at Kulm, ND.


Cole Ernest Brandenburger was born on a very hot 102 degree day of July 12, 1983 in Jamestown, ND to his proud parents Donald Lee Brandenburger and sally Ann (Johannes) Brandenburger. He spent his first three years on the family farm south of Kulm in German township of Dickey County, North Dakota. He was baptized as an infant at the congregational Church of Kulm and was added to the cradle role there. Cole moved with his parents and older brother trapper Lee to Dickinson, ND in 1986 where his parents attended college. He started Sunday school and children's ministry attendance at the Evangelical Free Church of Dickinson. After his parents finished college they moved to the Seattle area where Cole lived through his school years and until recently. Cole graduated with honors from Northwest Home School Academy in 2001. He and his family attended Bible Baptist Church of Everett, WA all through his youth. The he studied hard, memorizing scripture verses and polishing his pine car for the church sponsored derby each year. As a teenager Cole enjoyed playing acoustic guitar and was a member of the youth group worship team. He loved the annual Bible camps; tent camp in the summer and snow camp in the winter. He came to know and accept the Lord Jesus as his Savior at the early age of 7.
Academically, Cole was an amazing student who at the age of 12 was building computers from scratch and creating networks. As a teen, Cole was a hard worker; his first of many jobs was with Iverson dairy Distribution Company north of Marysville, WA. He enjoyed hiking and the outdoors with Trapper as long as it didn't interfere with computers, reading and music. Cole was a tenderhearted person who cherished his family and friends; he spoke often about wanting to have a career that would allow him to use his talents in such a way that he could spend his life giving back. He was a vibrant young person so full of life and potential until he started on the downward path of drugs and alcohol abuse. He struggled with himself and his addiction most of the second half of his life. For some years he sought help and was in and out of hospitals and rehab centers but never seemed to shake the drugs and the life they brought him. His family and his Savior, Jesus stood ready to help but somehow Cole chose rather to end his life, which he did on the sunny cold morning of Monday, March 25, 2013.

Cole is survived by his father, Donald Brandenburger, Kulm, ND; his mother, Sally (Jerry)Johnson, Kulm; brother, trapper (Andrea) Brandenburger, West Point, VA; his son, Seth Berry; nephews, Oliver, Stone and Benjamin Brandenburger; grandmother, Joyce Johannes, Fergus Falls, MN; uncles, Larry (Jane) Brandenburger, Lino Lakes, MN; John (Aunt Pam Brandenburger, Hawley, Royce City, TX; cousins, Rob and Margo (Brandenburger) Shuggart, Robbi and Lori Brandenburger, Natalie Brandenburger, Michael (Kelly) Brandenburger, and Gia, Mark Brandenburger, John (Lauren) Hawley, Uncle Mike (Karen) Johannes, Aunt JoAnn Johannes Bowman; Cousins, Marcus (Anna) Johannes and Ingrid, Christina Johannes, Joshua Bowman, David (Trisha) Bowman; three step-brothers, Landyn (Jessica) Johnson, McKinley and Hailey, Layton Johnson (Paige Dockter), Layne Johnson,; step grandmother, June (Lavern) Dornbusch. He was preceded in death by grandparents, Ernest and Bertha (Miller) Brandenburger, Maynard Johannes, Uncle Lyle Johannes, cousin John Brandenburger and step –grandfather, Gerald Johnson. Share memories and sign online guestbook at www.dahlstrom funeralservice.com. Dahlstrom Funeral Home of Kulm, ND entrusted with arrangements.