- Date Of Birth: April 16, 1943
- Date Of Death: December 12, 2021
- State: Iowa
Dennis Eugene Brand was born on April 16, 1943, the son of Lyle and Minnie (Van Genderen) Brand. He grew up on the family farm outside Killduff, Iowa, with older siblings Charles Brand and Karen (Brand) Needham. Denny graduated from Lynnville-Sully High School in 1961 active in both athletics and music. He continued music at Central College in Pella where he met his wife, Beverly De Cook, in the trombone section. Their love of music and each other blossomed, and they sang their wedding vows to each other on August 6, 1965, after Denny graduated from Central. Their 56-year marriage was full of faith, family, and fellowship with many circles of people.
Denny’s early teaching career began in Waterloo at Bunger Junior High School. He then went on to teach and coach at Montezuma High School from 1966-1973. Denny’s love for teaching the game of basketball built quite the program, and he led the Braves to the Iowa Boys State Championship in 1971. His picture can still be found in the Montezuma gym, and he had many wonderful stories from that season. Anyone who ever watched Denny on the bench knows how passionate he was as a coach. He also started the cross country program and coached track.
Denny was preceded in death by his parents Lyle and Minnie Brand, an infant sister Gwenith Brand, and his sister-in-law Joyce Brand.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Bev and their family:
Steve and Robin Brand, Mount Vernon, Iowa
Nolan, Kaleb, Summer, Kameron
Shelly and Jon Nelson, Oskaloosa, Iowa
Mary and fiancé Noah Van Veldhuizen
David, Josie, Hannah
Tim and Catie Brand, Pella, Iowa
Abbie, AJ
Denny is also survived by his siblings: Charles Brand, Karen and Gary Needham; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Dennis and Judy Steenhoek and Jim and Karla Campbell; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
