Another Kick in the Gut

I met Brandt through Garrett a couple years ago out boating. I have written about him in my blog before. He loved to go balls to the wall on the tube. He was fun to have around boating. I have been trying to find out when he is coming back to the area to get him out boating again. I was searching through the web trying to find him, and I ran across this:

Brandt Eugene Gehrke

LEWISTON, Idaho — A celebration of the life of Kirkland, Wash., resident Brandt Eugene Gehrke, 26, will begin at 2 p.m. today, Nov. 5, in Lewiston Community Center. Private family burial will be in Asotin, Wash., Cemetery.

His body was found by search and rescue teams on Oct. 24, 2005, at Merritt Lake Trailhead, near Leavenworth, Wash.

Born Feb. 28, 1979, in Lewiston, he was the second oldest of four children of Penny O. (Wilson) and David A. Gehrke. During his high-school years in Nevada, he excelled in all sports and was state champion in wrestling. He graduated from Asotin High School in 1997, with high honors and a grade-point average over 4.0.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1997 and served in the 82nd Airborne, 2/505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. From May through August 1999, he was a Quick Reaction Corps peacekeeper in Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo. He served his last six months in Egypt and was honorably discharged in February 2001 at the rank of sergeant.

He lived in Pullman, Wash., from 2001 to 2005; and worked full-time as a bartender at Valhalla’s Restaurant and Lounge. On the Washington State University president’s honor roll all four years, he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in business.

He met his fiancee, Jacquelyn Potwin, in January 2004 while they were students at WSU; and, in July 2005, moved to Kirkland to be with her.

An avid extreme sportsman, he enjoyed rock-climbing, parachuting, surfing, on-line gaming, modeling, snowboarding, and spending time with his sisters.

Survivors include his mother and her fiance of Asotin; three sisters, Lisa D. Millikin, her husband, and two nephews of Glendo, Kelly E. Gehrke and her fiance of Lewiston and Brianna I. Gehrke and her fiance of Clarkston, Wash.; maternal grandparents, Orine A. and Dr. R.D. Wilson of Clarkston; his fiancee; and several uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father and paternal grandparents, Joan M. and Eugene O. Gehrke.

Memorials may be made to the Scholarship Fund for Children of Special Officers Killed in Action; search and rescue organizations; or the National Center for Missing Persons.

Ward’s Funeral Chapel of Leavenworth is in charge of arrangements.