Branstad, Monroe "Monty" David (1950-2017)

BRANSTAD, GARLAND

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 12/29/2017 at 12:39:48

Monroe "Monty" David Branstad
April 7, 1950 - December 13, 2017

Surrounded by his family, Monroe “Monty” Branstad, 67, of Forest City, died peacefully on Wednesday, December 13, 2017.

Monroe David Branstad, a son of Edward A. and Rita L. (Garland) Branstad, was born on April 7, 1950, in Forest City, Iowa. He grew up on the family farm. From a young age, Monty’s dedication was evident. He started farming at age six, and by age eight, he, often, rose with the sun and worked until the cows came home. The youngest of two boys, Monty and his brother maintained the farm through one farm crisis while his parents worked out of town to make ends meet. While in high school, he, somehow, found time to participate and letter in football, track, and baseball as he took on an ever-increasing share of the work on the family farm. After days that began at sunrise and ended after sunset, his father, Edward, often said, “We didn’t get much done today. Let’s get up early and give her heck tomorrow.” Monty passed that saying on to friends and family who, also, worked long hours on the farm.

After graduating from Forest City High School, Monty took over the operation of the Branstad Farms. He, tirelessly, worked at construction, OTR trucking, ranching, and many other jobs through the years to make ends meet and to see the farm he loved through another farm crisis. Moreover, he expanded the Branstad Farms to allow his sons to return to farm full-time after they graduated from college. Nothing made Monty prouder than insuring that he could pass on his family’s century farm to be to future generations.

In his younger years, Monty enjoyed participating in sports, fishing, hunting, and driving fast. In his later years, however, he concentrated on enjoying his thirteen grandchildren and providing support to friends and family. Grandpa Monty proudest moments came when he, as a grandparent, could teach his younger-than-ten-year-old grandchildren how to operate heavy machinery giving them access to all a farm has to offer.

Time seemed to run more slowly for Monty than for others. Even at his busiest, he built lasting friendships with those in his community and beyond. He gave his time, his strength, and his advice to any who asked. His reputation preceded him in all that he did, and many of the best stories told in and around Forest City and Leland originated with him. An unassuming force to be reckoned with, he stood just shy of six feet tall and wore old worn out cowboy boots, wrangler jeans, and a blue button up denim shirt. Nonetheless, the man was larger than life.

Monty’s health problems began a few years ago. Following numerous successful climbs back to health, he, still, had to return to the hospital where he died on December 13, 2017, while surrounded by his family.

Preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Rita, Monty is survived by Tammy and their daughter, Heidi (Tom) Aitchison, and grandchildren: Addy, Max, Nick, Nate, and Emily; Lanette and their son, Jordan (Rachael) Branstad, with grandchildren: Trayce, Teryn, and Tristyn; their son, Andrew (Keniesa) Branstad, with grandchildren Madison and Gabrielle; their son David (Claire) Branstad, with grandchild Leah; their daughter, Christine (David Phillips) Branstad, with grandchildren Samuel and Thomas; and by his brother, Terry.

Visitation is from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., Sunday, December 17, 2017, at the Cataldo Schott Funeral Chapel, 505 North Clark St. Forest City, Iowa 50436. Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 A.M., Monday, December 18, 2017, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 40592 175th Ave., Leland, Iowa, with Pastor Doug Snyder officiating. Burial will follow in West Prairie Cemetery, rural Leland, Iowa

Memorials may be directed to the Winnebago County Relay for Life.

Cataldo Schott Funeral Home, Forest City, Iowa, 2017.

Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
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