VERA L. BRANDT, 98, of Cherokee, Iowa, formerly of Holstein, Iowa passed away on February 6, 2016 in the Thomas Rest Haven at Coon Rapids, Iowa.

Graveside memorial services will be held on Saturday, April 23rd, at 11 a.m. at the Holstein Cemetery at Holstein, Iowa. Pastor Jean Morse will officiate. The Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Vera was born on September 12, 1917 in Griggs Township, Ida County, Iowa to Ernest & Dora (Gries) Rasche. She attended country schools in Ida County and Cherokee County, graduating from the 8th grade at Diamond Township in Cherokee Co. Attended 9th grade at Galva High School, and then was having too much difficulty seeing to continue regular school. In later years she did take the G.E.D test and earned a high school equivalency certificate. She worked for other people as needed; cooking, cleaning, child care, etc.

She was married on November 16, 1937 to Nels Brandt in Sioux City, Iowa. After marriage she fulfilled the many duties as a farmer's wife and became the mother of 4 children, two boys and twin girls. She also enjoyed raising chickens on the farm. After the death of her husband in 1954, the family moved to a house in Holstein, where she then lived for almost 54 years before moving to Cherokee to live with her daughter.

She was baptized at the Methodist Church in Cherokee; confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Holstein and later transferred her membership to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee.

For about 30 years (From 1955-1985) she worked from her home sewing towels, tablecloths, aprons, pillow cases, placemats, tote bags, lions (stuffed toys), and napkins for the Home Industries Department at Iowa Commission for the Blind. Sewing was done either by hand or sewing machine.

Around 1956 she started learning the art of rug weaving working for her sister, Berneice at her rug shop in Holstein. In time she acquired two looms from Berneice, set them up in the basement of her home, and then did custom weaving for others for almost 40 years (from 1958 to 1995).

She enjoyed her childhood years as a 4-H member, learning many skills she used throughout her life, including cooking, canning, baking, and sewing. She was a member of the NFB (National Federation of the Blind) and attended many state and national conventions accompanied by children or grandchildren.

Vera was interested in family history and pursued research in her German ancestry as well as her husband's Swedish ancestry. She enjoyed competing in the Clay County Fair, the Cherokee County Fair, and the Iowa State Fair, and won many ribbons for her entries, primarily in canning and baking. She also made many quilts, including one for each of her grandchildren. She enjoyed playing cards and is remembered by grandchildren as having taught them how to play cribbage. Over the years she has read many magazines and books using various media – reading in Braille, listening to records, tapes, or digital cartridges. She also belonged for many years to the Voicespondence Club where she corresponded by tape to people all across the country plus outside the USA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Nels in 1954, a sister Berneice (Rasche) Johnson, a brother Marvin Rasche, a nephew Craig Urban.

She is survived by her four children: Ray (Marlene) Brandt of Burnsville, Minnesota; William (Janice) Brandt of Coon Rapids, Iowa; Lorna Brandt of Cherokee, Iowa; Linda (Lowell) Bowden of Altoona, Iowa; 11 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren; two sisters: Melva Urban of Newell, Iowa and Fern (Harold) Ehrlich of Ocala, Florida.