BRANDL, Richard L. (Dick)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Wednesday, August 20, 2014 Richard L. "Dick" Brandl, 85, passed away July 28, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz. He was born May 14, 1929, in Marshfield, Wis. Dick is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Jean Brandl, and children Marsha Held of Albuquerque, N.M., and Kathy Renken and husband Larry of Prescott, as well as three brothers, Ronald, Robert and Roger, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Rita. Dick was very outgoing and gregarious and would not hesitate to start up a conversation with strangers. He was passionate about politics, golf, cooking, dancing and figuring out how to fix or install practically anything. He always had an ongoing project and was an expert at moving (physically doing most of the work himself) around the country from Wisconsin to Montana, Idaho, New York, Michigan, Nevada, Colorado and finally, Arizona. He was an accomplished businessman and had a very successfully career starting and operating small businesses. As a young man, personal family issues forced him to start looking for work at age 12. He did whatever he could to support himself and get through high school. On Feb. 21, 1947, he married Jean Zimmerman and began work in a coast-to-coast hardware store, where he was credited with inventing the "rain check" for store promotions. He moved on to owning and operating his own propane/butane gas distributorship with Petrolane Gas Service, Inc. During this time, he taught himself the sheet metal business and became expert at installing heating and a/c units. It wasn't long before Petrolane promoted him to a district manager position, and then to regional manager for several states. In 1971, he decided to make a major change in job and location and purchased several Merle Norman Cosmetic Studios in Denver, Colo. He quickly grew this business with the help of his wife Jean and daughter Kathy, and owned nine stores before deciding to retire in 1992. Dick and Jean then moved to Sun City West, Ariz., where they enjoyed many happy years of travel, golf, dining and dancing, as well as a summer home in Prescott. It was Dick's desire to donate his body to Science Care in Phoenix, Ariz., and to have no funeral service. If desired, please make memorial donations to the Wounded Warriors Project. Information provided by survivors.