Maxine Brandt

Maxine was born on January 27, 1935, to Elmer Jess Slyter and Anna Dorothea Rodewald in rural Fontana, KS. She graduated from Trinity Lutheran School in 1949 and Paola High School in 1953. While working as a waitress at the Bowery from 1950-1953, she met Rudolph William Prihoda, a pipeline worker. Rudy and Maxine were united in marriage on June 21, 1953. Rudy was drafted into the U.S. Army so Maxine worked at Hallmark Cards until 1955. Rudy and Maxine then moved to Texas, where she worked as a housewife, waitress, and seamstress and gave birth to Stephan Ray in August of 1956 and Katherine Jean in December of 1957. In 1963, the family moved to Kansas, and Maxine worked as a seamstress in the Paola Lounge Craft Factory. She was also involved in farming with her husband and after 20 years of marriage, Rudy and Maxine divorced in 1973. On October 12, 1978, Maxine married Robert Leroy Brandt, Sr. who had three sons, Richard, Robert and Rollin. In 1979, she studied at ECPI, majoring in software applications and then worked at the Citizen"s State Bank. From 1983 to her retirement in 2000, she worked full time taking off one year for her heart transplant on January 18, 1991. Maxine was a KU heart transplant volunteer and continued to work at Farmer"s Insurance in data administration, and several part time sales positions at Montgomery Wards, Jones Store, and at the Penney"s Distribution Center. For health reasons, in 2005, Maxine moved to Poway, California to live with her daughter and maintain their flower garden. Maxine is preceded in death by her first husband, Rudy Prihoda, second husband, Robert Brandt, Sr., parents, Elmer & Anna Slyter; brother, Damon Slyter; brother-in-law, Gene Martin; and nephew, Don Brewer. She is survived by her daughter, Katherine Prihoda, of Poway, CA; son, Steve Prihoda of Palacios & daughter-in-law, Jessica of Corpus Christi, TX; step-sons, Robert (Delores) Brandt, Jr., of Paola, KS, Richard (Suzan) Brandt of Broken Arrow, OK, and Rollin Brandt of Paola, KS; grand-companions, Anie & Bela Prihoda of Poway, CA; grandson, Blake Prihoda of Corpus Christi, TX; granddaughter, Michelle (Michael) Kooistra of Auburn, IN, and step-granddaughter, Kirsten Richter of Corpus Christi, TX; great-grandchildren, Tylor, Brooke, Mark & Megan Kooistra; step-grandsons, Robert Brandt III, Joshua (Dianna) Brandt, Jeremiah (Catina) Brandt, Jacob (Elizabeth) Brandt, and Jordan Brandt; step-granddaughters, Dena Brandt and Jessie Brandt; step-great-grandchildren, Sierra, Madison, and Logan; brothers, Leonard (Dolores) Slyter of Preston, MD, and Ray (Hazel) Slyter of August, KS; sister, Lois (Ted) Moore of Paola, KS; sister-in-laws, Ruth Slyter of Topeka, KS, and Beverly Martin; nieces, Susan, Sandra, Sally, Kristey, Stacey, Linda, and Shelly; and nephews, Scott, Keith, Kenneth, Mark, Ronnie, Jeffrey, Rex, and Alan . In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the University of Kansas Heart Transplant Fund, 2330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Suite 302, Westwood, Ks 66205, or to the Block Trinity Lutheran Church, 34868 Block Rd., Paola, KS 66071. To leave a special message with the family, you may visit our website at www.penwellgabel.com. Arr. Penwell-Gabel Paola Chapel, 305 North Pearl St., Paola, KS 66071, 913-294-2372