Kenny L Brandon

Kenny Brandon was born in Chicago Illinois, June 18th of 1973. Kenny was brought up by his mother, alongside his siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles, which helped mold him into the man he became. Kenny graduated from Kelvyn Park high school in 1991. As a boy he loved to dance! He was a part of the street dancing team in Chicago. He started his professional journey by joining the United States Marine Corps at the age of 19. Throughout his service in the military, he found lifelong friends and gained wisdom that he continued to share.

Kenny loved to travel. He went from Chicago, to Hawaii, where he met Angela Nishimura, mother of his first born son and daughter, Darian and Kenda. In 1997 he moved from Hawaii back home to Chicago, where in the year 2001, he and Haleema Shaheed, had his youngest son, Salim. Soon after, he migrated to Wisconsin, settling there in 2002 after meeting Wendy Gillespie. Kenny stood up to the plate and raised their daughter Sawyer as his very own.

Kenny was a wise man, helping family, friends and even strangers. His wit, humor, and charming smile would brighten every room he entered. He loved a good Harley, a nice car, and feeling “Free”.

Kenny was preceded in death by his parents, Hazel Jean Brandon and Benny Starks, his sister Twanda Brandon, and his oldest and closest cousin, Charles Marsh. He is survived by his brother Anthony Brandon, his children Darian Brandon Hardwick (wife Jordan), Kenda Brandon Mincy, Salim Shaheed (wife Dashia), and Sawyer Gillespie (partner Nolan). His grandchildren are Leilani, Kaleia, Cole, Maleko, Makaio, Salim Jr., and Jayair. He is also remembered by his uncle Lester Brandon (wife Jean), great aunt Mary (husband Edgar), many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and special friends, along with lifelong best friends Zardale Warfield and Demetrius Cole, cousin Michael Brandon, fellow marine Darian Blaine and Jeffrey Bratcher, friend of 25 years Ralph McClinton, nephew Michaeal Wilkins (wife Khushboo), and many others.