Billie L. Brandenburg, age 84, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 4, 2024. He was born in Hazard, Perry County, Kentucky, on January 24, 1940, and moved as a young child, age 2, to Irvine, Kentucky, and at age 4, to Ravenna, Kentucky. Mr.: Brandenburg was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Amy Napier Brandenburg, his father, Ray Johnson of Perry County, and his adoptive father, Hargis Brandenburg. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Jean Johnson, his brother, Blaine Brandenburg, Buford Brandenburg, and Donald Brandenburg.

Mr. Brandenburg was a member of Williams Memorial Baptist Church in Ravenna, Kentucky, continuously since the age of 9. He attended Ravenna Elementary School through eighth grade where as a young boy, he was active in the Boy Scouts, and delivered the Lexington Leader to many residents of Ravenna and Irvine. He was a 1958 graduate of Irvine High School having attended Bluegrass Boys State in March of the year, He was also a graduate of the University of Kentucky Fire School where he was awarded a Fire Engineering Teaching Certificate. He attended Central Technical Institute in Kansas City Missouri, for Airline Personnel Training. He attended Lexington Community College having been awarded the Emergency Medical Technician Certificate, the Blackstone School of Law, and he attended Eastern Kentucky University studying Criminal Law and Police Administration.

Mr. Brandenburg was proud to serve his country as a combat veteran during the Vietnam War serving in the United States military from 1963 – 1966. He attended U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, studying Military Law. His service was with the 11sth Air Assault Test Division to develop the Air Mobility Concept. This division was changed to the 1st Cavalry Air Mobile Division, to implement the Air Mobility Concept in Vietnam, where he was an Infantryman, Personnel Specialist, and Intelligence Specialist.

Mr. Brandenburg was employed in various positions throughout his life which reflected his interest, strengths, and unique abilities. As a young man he was employed in Kansas City, Missouri, first as an Advertising and Printing Clerk with Jackbilt Corporation then a Supply Clerk with Clipper Manufacturing, at Katz Drug Company as a Management Trainee, and finally at Pinkerton Detective Agency. He also had quite a history with the Fire Department serving as a Ravenna Volunteer Fireman, then Assistant Chief for the City of Ravenna, followed by Fire Chief. He designed a new fire truck for Ravenna in 1969 and served as Deputy State Fire Marshall from 1967 – 1969.

He will be remembered by many families in Estill County during their times of bereavement in his position as Apprentice Funeral Director/Embalmer with Cox Funeral Home and then with Lewis Funeral Home,

Later, he was President of Estill Corporation which dealt with oil and gas leasing and drilling, owner of Star Security, which provided security and investigative services to the coal industry, was a private contractor as a Security and Investigative Consultant, and most recently as a Gold Buyer with Cash-in-a-Dash Company.

He was also active in the political arena and had many friends and contacts throughout Kentucky and other states as a result. His first venture into politics involved serving as Acting City Judge in Ravenna from 1967 – 1970. Next, he served in public office from 1970 – 1974, when the people of Estill County voted him the honor of serving as Estill County Judge. He was then appointed Special Judge from 1974 – 1975, to hear select cases. These positions occupied a very special part of his life and his service to others.

Mr. Brandenburg was a devoted public servant, working for programs and services that would benefit all Estill Countians. Some of the programs that he was responsible for and functioned within active leadership positions included serving as Chairman of the Board for the Bluegrass Area Development Council, Chairman of the Board for the Kentucky River Foothills Development Council, he brought the GED Adult Education Program into the county before it was absorbed into the school system, he served as the first Director of the Estill County Emergency Medical Service Program and was called upon to help develop and organize Emergency Medical Services in other counties as well, he instigated the program to set up building the Chamberlain Branch dam to prevent flooding at the Irvine-Ravenna line, he along with Dr. Tim Lee Carter, instigated the purchase and renovation of the Fitchburg Furnace, he was responsible for the expansion of the Estill County Water District including installation of fire hydrants throughout the district, then later on established the Estill County Fire Department in 1973. He designed the first two fire trucks for Estill County. He served as Chairman of the Public Employment Program for the National Association of Counties, before Congress on the Comprehensive Employment Training Program, and the Federal Revenue Sharing Program. It was noted in 1973 by the National Association of Counties that Judge Brandenburg was the only elected public official in the United States to simultaneously head an economic developments agency and an anti- poverty agency. He established a central dispatch communications program for Estill County which provided radios for the Sheriff's Department, the Police Departments of Irvine and Ravenna, as well as the Fire Department and Ambulance Service. He, along with Lynn Frazier, met with the Kentucky Congressional Delegation as well as members from other states and presented information to implement a nutrition program which later became known as the Meals on Wheels Program. He worked with the Library Board to establish the Estill County Library on Main Street and was responsible for initiating the bonding in order to build the nursing home, currently Irvine Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Mr. Brandenburg was a Charter Member as well as a Lifetime Member of the International and National Association of Probate Judges, a Lifetime Member of the 11th Airborne Division and 1st Calvary Division Association, the VFW, the DAV, the American Legion, and a Kentucky Colonel.

He leaves to cherish his history and memories, sisters-in-law Dianna Brandenburg Chambers, Bath County, and Jean Brandenburg, Lexington, Kentucky. Nephews Martin (Kim) Brandenburg, Hillsboro, Kentucky, and Doug Brandenburg, Colorado. Nieces Sherry Brandenburg Sullivan, Lexington, Kentucky, and Terry (Otis) Freeman, Irvine, Kentucky. Also his cherished friend, Marsha Stone, along with special cousin Bill (Judy) Strong, Lexington, Kentucky, and special friend Phyllis Wagers. Several great nieces and nephews, and cousins Wanda Morgan, Hazard, Kentucky, and Billy Joe Napier, Hyden, Kentucky.

Mr. Brandenburg was a man of principle and integrity who cared deeply about his family, his community, and his friends, and our lives will be forever blessed and enriched by his being a part of them. He will be remembered for his love, his leadership, and his loyalty.

Funeral services will be on Friday, February 9, 2024 at 1:00 P.M. at Lewis Home for

Funerals with Brother Jim Ashcraft officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. until service time. Interment will follow at West Irvine Cemetery with full military honors.

Honoring him as pallbearers: Martin Brandenburg, Stan White, Artie White, Ken White, Tommy Lane, and Jackie Rogers. Serving as honorary pallbearers: Bill Strong, James Gross, members of the Estill County Fire Department and Estill County Ambulance Service. Memorials suggested to Williams Memorial Baptist Church, Kentucky Educational Television, or the Estill County Animal Shelter.

Lewis Home for Funerals is honored to serve the family of Billie L. Brandenburg.