We Remember Brandoch Peters (1941-2022)

Brandoch Peters was born on December 17, 1941, in Madison, WI to William Wesley Peters and Svetlana Peters. He passed away on November 2, 2022, from complications of dementia, a disease he faced with courage and dignity.

Brandoch was a child of Taliesin, the grandson of Olgivanna Lloyd Wright and the step-grandson of Frank Lloyd Wright. His upbringing by his father, William Wesley Peters, and his famous grandparents began when he was 41/2 years old, following the tragic death in September 1946, of his mother, Svetlana, his brother, Daniel and his unborn sibling, in a car accident near the Wisconsin River bridge, not far from Spring Green. This heartbreaking event colored Brandoch’s whole life.

Brandoch once said “I’ve had a hard life, but I’ve had an interesting life”, and this is borne out by a lifetime of travel, music and too many friends to count. He spent six years at the Juilliard School, studying cello performance under the tutelage of Leonard Rose, whose name Brandoch often invoked with respect and affection. During his 6 years at Juilliard, Brandoch lived in New York City in the apartment of John deKoven Hill, a designer at Taliesin and the former editor of House Beautiful magazine. Following his graduation from Julliard, Brandoch was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and studied at the Ecole Normale/Conservatoire in Paris. He then played the cello for one year in an orchestra in Munich. He also played in musical events at Taliesin. Brandoch later studied for 3 years at the University of Wisconsin School of Agriculture.

Brandoch loved to read, especially history, and could carry on a good conversation with anyone about anything. His years as a cattle and sheep farmer, both at Aldebaran Farm, near Taliesin, and on his farm in western Iowa County, brought him both frustration and joy, and he talked often about his sheep flock and his farms. He was proud of both.

Brandoch lived in his apartment at Taliesin until 2004 when he suffered a serious stroke, after which he moved to the Michels farm on the Taliesin estate. In December 2015 a fall and encroaching dementia, diagnosed in 2006, necessitated his move to Ingleside Manor in Mt Horeb.

He is survived by his longtime companion and loving caretaker, Sue Schuetz, Cross Plains WI; cousin Wynne Hayakawa (husband, Robert and daughter, Anakai) of San Francisco; cousin Alan Hayakawa (Barbara) of San Rafael, CA; cousin Branislav (Ljerka) Gosovic of Montenegro; his cousins the Stewarts and the Margedants of Indiana; cousin, Eve Lloyd Wright; his half-sister Chris; and many friends. He is further survived by his close Taliesin friends: Brian Lockhart, Leslie Bisharat, Indira Berndtson, Anna Berndtson Coor (Roger), Floyd and Caroline Hamblen and boys, Minerva Montooth, Carin (Caraway) and Jim Quast of Utah. Close friends, Jerry and Judy Hanson of San Diego, also survive him.

Brandoch was preceded in death by his beloved parents; his brother, Daniel; his unborn sibling; his grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Wright; and F. Romer and Clara Margedant Peters; his Border Collies, Nap and Dar; and the many apprentices at Taliesin whom Brandoch greatly admired and loved and considered family, among them: Gene Masselink, John deKoven Hill, Kenn Lockhart, Joe Fabris, David Dodge, and Heloise Crista.

Gratitude is due to Dr. Jeff Collins of Plain Clinic for his excellent, insightful and compassionate care. Thank you to Ingleside Manor for taking care of Brandoch since December 15, 2017.

A memorial gathering will be held at a later date. Brandoch’s ashes will be buried at the Chapel, Hwy. T, Spring Green, next to the graves of his parents and siblings.

Memorials in Brandoch’s name can be sent to Peters-Margedant House, University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN 47722; Lloyd-Jones Cemetery/Unity Chapel, Spring Green, WI; Agrace Hospice, 5395 E. Cheryl Pkwy., Fitchburg WI 53711