Thelma Brandt

Thelma Rose Brandt was born July 31, 1930, on the farm NW of Dysart, the daughter of Walter and Lulu (Peters) Hark. She was raised on the farm and attended Dysart Consolidated School, graduating in 1949. She attended Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI) and after graduation taught in a country school. On June 14, 1952, Thelma was united in marriage to Don Brandt at the Dysart EUB Church. They started their married life on the road to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, then Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, before coming home to the farm in 1956. In addition to being a farm wife, she raised a family, tended her garden and developed a love of all animals. After moving to town in 1990, she helped Wieben and Walters Catering and chenilled. She was a devout Christian and loyal member of her church where she was a Sunday School teacher, junior choir director, United Methodist Women’s officer, conference delegate, a youth fellowship leader, sang in the choir and played in the bell choir. Outside of church, Thelma was very active in the community. She was in the Take Time Woman’s Club, Dysart Development Club, Dysart Historical Society, an assistant librarian, on the Dysart Museum board, delivered Meals on Wheels and was a helper with the Lion’s Club.

Thelma died at the age of 93 on November 20, 2023, at MercyOne Hospital in Waterloo, surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a brother, Herbert Hark and a son-in-law, Duane Monroe.

Thelma is survived by her six children: Deborah Monroe (Pinetop, AZ), Amy (Tom) Moeller (Marshalltown), Tom (Pam) Brandt (Dysart), Mike (Kathy McBurney) Brandt (Brandon, FL), Sally (Brian) Lorenzen (Steamboat Rock) and Dawn Brandt (Highlands Ranch, CO); 10 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

The visitation was on Tuesday, November 28 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Dysart United Methodist Church. The funeral was on Wednesday, November 29 at 10:30 AM, also at the Methodist church with the burial to follow at Dysart Cemetery. Please direct memorials to the Dysart United Methodist Church.