Hilmar Brandau

March 27, 1940 – September 26, 2024With heavy hearts, we announce the death of our father Hilmar Brandau (Greer, South Carolina), who passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 26, 2024 at the age 84. 

It was difficult, when his wife of 57 years Sibylle died in August 2020, and to keep her memory alive and feel close to her he took to driving around and visiting all the places that he and Sibylle used to enjoy in the Carolinas together. Usually, these trips included bringing some fruits from their favorite farm store for his sons. There were times we could provide strawberries and peaches for the whole neighborhood. Driving was something he truly enjoyed and like his twin brother Ralf, he was a car enthusiast all of his life. The twins liked to discuss the pro & cons of the various cars they drove, and much to the chagrin of their wives passed this passion to their sons. At family gatherings they were regularly gone for "just a quick look and a short test drive", only to return one or two hours later. 

Another passion in his life was everything nautical, he loved the sea and everything maritime - this love was shared by his wife Sibylle and so when you visited their home, you could immediately tell. The walls were covered with maritime paintings and ship drawings, on the cabinets and shelves were ship models and nautical brass time pieces. They also loved their Chatham Pottery with their typical coastal design patterns. No matter where their home was or what type apartment or house they lived in - they always made it their place - a place, that their sons always can come home to, since they share this passion as well.

Time was another important element in life for Hilmar, who always liked to be on time and valued the punctuality of others. Every room had at least one clock in it and he had a nice collection of good wristwatches, so he could always pick a piece that matched his outfit. 

He got around quite a bit in his life: born in Schmiedefeld, Thuringia, after a few years the family moved to Werdohl, Westphalia where he went to Highschool. The next station was the German Airforce from which he was honorably discharged with the rank lieutenant. He went back to Werdohl and began an apprenticeship in the non-ferrous metal trade, during that time he met his future wife Sibylle. The metal trade was his career for the rest of his life, which lead him through several companies in Germany (including business trips all over Europe, the US and Asia) and finally in the late 1980ies to Hackensack, NJ - close to New York City. In that time he discovered his love for classical music and the opera. He also discovered, that a lot of his business contacts have become friends over time. So he and Sibylle enjoyed inviting these friends to their home for dinner, experimenting with new recipes and trying new dishes, but what they liked most about this, were the conversations they were having with their friends - current affairs, world events - these evening were everything but boring. After a few years they moved their residence to Chatham, Cape Cod, Mass., the dinners with friends became weekends on the Cape, they always had at least one guest room available. He cherished the weekends on the Cape, especially in spring and autumn, when the weather is great, but the tourists are still at home. He loved to cruise in Pleasant Bay with his wife on their boat. When they retired they moved to Greer, SC since they had enough of the long, dark winters and the Blizzards & Nor'easters have become worse in the previous years, on top, this is where their son Oliver lives and they wanted to be closer to family. His elder son Christian, who lives in Cologne/Germany since 2000, has been visiting for decades at least once a year, so the family could enjoy some time together.

Hilmar is predeceased by his parents Fritz und Edith, as well his wife Sibylle and twin brother Ralf. He is survived by his sons Christian and Oliver.

 A celebration of life will take place at their favorite place in Chatham, Cape Cod, Mass. in spring or autumn (their favorite time on the Cape) - at that time the ashes of Hilmar and Sibylle will be given to the Atlantic Ocean, so that their remains will be slowly carried back to Europe.