Derald Brecht 1923-1997

BRECHT, KETCHUM, VALENTE, FRIMML

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 6/5/2026 at 07:24:28

The Tipton Conservative - 12 March 1997 page 11

Funeral services for Derald Joseph Brecht, Sr., 73, West Branch, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 13, 1997 at the West Branch United Methodist church, with the Rev. Richard M. Paulus officiating. Mrs. Amy Garlock will be the organist and Deanna Weismann will sing. Pallbearers are Alfred and Brad Worrell, Richard Stoolman, Kurt Johnson, Jerry Radford and Barry Lenoch. Honorary pallbearers are Donald Johnson, Richard Anderson, Kenneth Kabela, John Murphy, Robert Petersen and Earl Vikel. Burial, with military honors will be in the West Branch cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today, Wednesday, March 12 at the Barker Funeral Home.

Mr. Brecht died March 10 at Mercy hospital in Iowa City from cancer.

The son of Edward J. and Alva Knock Brecht, he was born Oct. 29, 1923 in Marengo. He graduated from Marengo high school and then farmed with his father near Marengo until 1944, when he entered the U.S. Marines Corps. He served in the South Pacific, including Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal and China. He was discharged in 1946.

He married Marietta Ketchum March 16, 1947 in Marysville, Kan. He later moved to West Branch, where he was employed by the Foster Trucking Co. He later worked at Johnson's Hatcheries in West Branch, which became West Branch Farm Supply Co. He became president of the corporation.

Mr. Brecht was a former member of the Iowa City Moose Lodge, and a member and Past Commander of the Chauncey Butler American Legion Post in West Branch.

He is survived by his wife; a son, Derold Joseph and wife Dianne, Sterling, Va.; 2 sisters, Elvera Valente, Portsmouth, R.I. and Mary Ann Frimml, Marengo; 2 brothers, Andrew Brecht and wife Esther, Cedar Rapids; and Ronald Brecht and wife Sandra, Marengo; 2 grandchildren, Melissa Ann Brecht, Sterling, Va.; and Matthew Joseph Brecht and wife Tammy, both members of the U.S. Air Force in North Las Vegas, Neb.; 2 great-grandsons, Tyler Joseph and Ryan Joseph, North Las Vegas, Neb. and 2 close friends, Alfred Worrell and wife Darlene, West Branch; and Ann Lenoch and husband Barry, West Branch.

He was preceded in death by 3 sons, Douglas Dean in 1976, Brian Lee in 1988; and an infant son; and a brother Dean, Marengo.