Marion ‘Jo’ Brannan, 103

Feb. 2, 1919 —

April 1, 2022

 

DECORAH - Marion “Jo” White Brannan, age 103, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Friday, April 1, 2022 at her daughter’s home in Decorah. She had lived her last four years at AASE home in Decorah. 

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at Lindstrom Funeral Home in Cresco, Iowa. Burial took place at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Cresco.

Marion was born in Howard County, Iowa on Groundhog’s Day, Feb. 2, 1919 to Richard and Ethel (Henderson) Gager. She grew up in Kendallville, Iowa with her parents and sisters, Ione and Juanita, and a brother, Oscar. She attended school in rural Kendallville. 

She met her future husband (Floyd) Howard White from Cresco, and they married on May 31, 1936. The couple farmed north of Cresco where, they had twin sons, Richard and Ronald, a daughter, Geraldine, a son (Virgil) Robert and a daughter, Gayle. In 1953, they moved to Waterloo, where Marion worked at a men’s clothing store and Rath’s. In 1958 they bought a farm near Tripoli, Iowa and lived there until they bought her parents’ family farm near Holcombe, Wis. Howard died in 1970, and Marion moved back to Iowa.

She lived in many different places and met her second husband, Keith Brannan, in Elsa, Texas. They were married April 1, 1981. Keith died in 1987. Marion returned to Tripoli, with her son, (Virgil) Robert White to help raise her granddaughter, Josie.

“Jo” enjoyed writing poetry and letters, which she did all of her life until macular degeneration took her eyesight at age 98. Many occasions were celebrated with a poem and letter from her. Her poetry was published in a 350 page book with pictures and poetry. She loved gardening, visiting with family and friends, traveling and any card or board game. Her game of choice was scrabble. She had a way with words; one of the many reasons she liked scrabble (especially winning).

Survivors are her identical twin sons, Richard (Hildegard) White of Hartford, Wis. and Ronald (Judy) White of Olathe, Kan.; daughters, Gerri (Larry) Andreassen of Decorah and Gayle (Gary) Bahlmann of Lansing, Iowa; her granddaughter, Josie Stimson of Independence, Iowa, plus many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands; a son, (Virgil) Robert White; a daughter-in-law, Anita White; two sisters, Ione White and Juanita Krueger; a brother, Oscar Gager; two brothers-in-law, Robert White and Ray Krueger; and a grandson, Matthew White. 

Memorials may be given to Hospice, Winneshiek Medical Center, 901 Montgomery St. Decorah, IA 52136.