Obituary
Max Eugene Brand, 87, of Muncie, Indiana, beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away with his family at his side April 16, 2024. He was born March 23, 1937 in Muncie, Indiana to the late Irene Alice (Hofherr) and Robert Augustine Brand. Max was a 1956 graduate of Royerton High. School and married his high school sweetheart, Mildred Lorraine Hotmire on February 2, 1957.
He worked at the Marhoefer Meat Packing plant in Muncie, Indiana for over 20 years until it closed before moving to Muncie's Colonial Bakery for two years. From there he established a decades-long career with The Frito-Lay Food Company in Muncie prior to his retirement. He worked over 40 years in the food industry.
Max was an honest, hard-working and proud man who devoted his life to his family and friends. As a dedicated family man first and foremost, he treasured his time with wife, children and grandchildren and embraced every moment with them. He was an exceptional role model for his children and others. His work-ethic was legendary with those that knew him and that trait was passed along to his children and grandchildren. He especially cherished his role as grandfather and great grandfather. He was quick with a joke and he loved to needle anyone who came in contact with him on a daily basis. He relished in how people would react to his musings and teasing. If you were fortunate to be the subject of his good-natured ribbing you knew that he really cared about you.
An avid sports fan, he was a very good athlete who played football and basketball and ran track and field at Royerton High School. As a young adult he was a talented bowler and participated in many leagues in Muncie. Later in life he took up the sport of golf at the suggestion of a friend, and became a low handicap golfer. He participated in many golf leagues in and around the Muncie area and recorded an amazing five holes-in-one in his lifetime. He immersed himself in everything golf related, from watching it on television to reading about it in books and magazines. He was well-known for his excellent short-game and his uncanny ability to hit the ball straight. Aside from being with his family, his happy place was any morning or afternoon on a beautiful, serene golf course. There, he felt a sense of calm and
peace.
Survivors include daughter Melia Lynn Clawson (Brian) of Muncie and sons Michael Allen Brand (Lisa) of Albany and Mark Eugene Brand (Lori) of Phoenix, Arizona; brother Robert David Brand (Elsie) of Muncie and sisters Judith Ann Davis (Joseph, deceased) and Janice Elaine Simpson (Eddie) of Muncie. Max was blessed with six grandchildren: Colby Brand (Nicole), Ashley Brand, Mackenzie Martin (Brandon), Lindsey Emeterio (Tanner), Skyler Brand (Haleigh) and Devin Clawson and seven great grandchildren: Nolan, Josephine, Lauren, Wilder, Bodhi, Aspen and Abel. He was preceded in death by his parents Irene and Robert Brand and his brothers William Francis (Shirley), Phillip Leslie (Joyce) and Thomas Frederick (Connie) Brand.
A celebration of life will be held at 10 am on Friday, April 19, 2024 at Garden View Funeral Home, 10503 N. Old State Road 3, Muncie, Indiana, 47303. Friends and family may call, at the same location, from 10 am prior to the service which begins at 12 pm.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Muncie's First Tee Program, 3325 South Walnut Street, Muncie, Indiana, 47302 (765-289-6952). It is a program that enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges by seamlessly integrating the game of golf with life skills.