James Braendle

James T. Braendle, 76, of Cambridge, died Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at his home after a courageous three year battle with cancer. Visitation will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 9th, at Stackhouse-Moore Funeral Services, 212 E. Court St., Cambridge. Cremation has been accorded. Private inurnment services will be held on Monday at the National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal. Memorials may be made to the Cambridge Public Library District or Trinity Pathway Hospice.

James Todd Braendle was born January 21, 1934 in Freeport, Michigan, the son of Kenneth W. and Annabelle Friend Braendle. His early education was in Michigan. The family moved to Havana, Illinois when his father purchased the Mason County Democrat newspaper. He graduated from Havana High School in 1952. Jim served in the U. S. Navy during the Korean War. He then attended Valparaiso University in Indiana and Northwestern University in Chicago.

His marriage to Mary Ellen Hayes took place on August 19, 1961 in Forest Park, IL. Jim then entered John Marshall Law School in Chicago, graduating in 1966. After working for Chicago Title Insurance Company in the Geneva office, Jim and his family moved to Cambridge in February of 1969. In January of 1970, he became a partner in the law firm that became Telleen, Telleen, and Braendle, and Secretary of the Henry County Title & Abstract Co., which he oversaw for 30 years. He retired September 1, 2007.

His memberships included the Illinois Land Title Association, where he had served as its president. Jim was a charter member and past president of the Cambridge Rotary Club. He was a former member of the Henry County, Illinois, and American Bar Associations, Cambridge American Legion, and Valley View Club, Cambridge, where he has served on the Board of Directors.

Jim was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and University of Illinois Fighting Illini. He enjoyed golf, was an avid reader, and loved to travel with his wife and family. His friends and colleagues will remember his quick wit and clever sense of humor.

Those surviving are his wife of 48 years, Mary Ellen; a daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Mike Huggett, Madison, WI; a son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Kathy Braendle, Cambridge, and four grandchildren, Kara and Kacey Braendle and Leah and Dana Huggett. Other survivors include two sisters, Helena Riekse, Grand Rapids, MI, and Phyllis Hoffman, Flagstaff, AZ, and a brother, Neil Braendle, Hastings, MI. His parents and two brothers preceded him in death.

Special thanks is given to Dr. Stewart Garneau and his caring angels who made things almost bearable the past two years, the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, and the wonderful care of Trinity Pathway Hospice these final weeks.