Brantner named Palouse Days grand marshal

PALOUSE - This year's Palouse Day Grand Marshal is Swartz Brantner.

Aside from a few brief years, he has spent his entire life of nearly 88 years in Palouse, surrounded by family and spilling over with memories to share. Any conversation will likely include him saying, "I've got a story about that," and it's sure to make you smile.

He was born in his grandparents' home on the corner of Cannon Street and Highway 27 in 1936 and graduated from Palouse High School in 1955. He was very active with every sport, but basketball was his favorite. His bragging rights include the fact that his high school team was the first Palouse team to qualify for the state tournament. His love of local sports is lifelong, with regular attendance at games or watching from home when the games or track meets are televised. He coached his son Wade's basketball teams in elementary school and also AAU in later years. Art was a favorite subject.

He grew up on Cannon Street with siblings Gail "Strawberry," Ron and Paula. His parents were Chuck and Pauline (Wolheter). When Chuck returned from military service in 1945, his dad Emery had purchased the St. Elmo's Tavern and the two operated it as "Chuck and Pop's," then later "Chuck's Place" until about 1977, when it was sold to Kenny Nagle. His mom was honored by having a street named after her – "Pauline Lane," off Spokane Avenue.

Summers were spent hauling hay, usually with friends Pat Syms and Butch Brantner, especially in the Turnbow Flat neighborhood. Hard work was rewarded with good food, and they always hoped to end up in Blondie St. John's kitchen at mealtime.

He married Potlatch native Darlene Kreid in 1960, and they had three children Shelley, Kay and Wade, all of whom live in Palouse, something he declares is "a pretty damn good deal." His family now includes eight grandchildren including Rachael, Kevin, Gavin, Darren, Kori, Lexie, Macie and Kyra. Also 10 great-grandkids Kaylee, Madelyn, Khloe, Jackson, Rylen, Taylen, Madden, Kendall, Chase and Blake. Darlene passed in 2016.

Following high school he worked at the Potlatch mill and later for Arden Dairy in Pullman and Carnation in Moscow as a truck driver and salesman. The city life he endured working for Boeing was short-lived and he was happy to be back in Palouse. He owned and later worked for beer distributorships for about 30-plus years.

Hobbies through the years include gardening, hunting, fishing, cutting firewood and, of course, anything his kids or grandkids are involved with. He has made bird houses for all his kids and likes to bake bread and cookies, trying always to have cookies ready when he knows any of his kids are coming.

In retirement, he and Darlene enjoyed some travel in the U.S., with one of his favorite trips being to Mt. Rushmore. Currently one of his pastimes is a friendly rivalry with neighbors Bill and Sunny Edwards for Halloween and Christmas yard decorating. The planning and teasing is year-round. He can often be found downtown on Saturdays at the Palouse Museum, answering questions for the volunteers there and telling stories about earlier Palouse.

His favorite part of Palouse Day is the car show, and this year his 1951 Kaiser will be there too. His favorite thing about Palouse took him no time to answer simply "the people."

Swartz Brantner is a fitting grand marshal, as he is one of those people who make Palouse a nice place to live. He is a character for sure, full of fun, supportive of community activities, and a good friend and neighbor.

The Palouse Day parade starts at 10 a.m. this Saturday, Sept. 14.