Doris L. Brandel, age 85, of Dyersville, passed away at 4:32 a.m., on Monday, February 12, 2024, at MercyOne Dyersville Medical Center. 

To honor Doris’ life, family and friends may visit from 9:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., on Monday, February 19, 2024, at Holy Spirit Parish, Sacred Heart Church, 2215 Windsor Avenue.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Monday at the church.  Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.  Behr Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Doris was born on September 1, 1938, in Dubuque, Iowa, daughter of John and Lena (Schultz) Meyer.  

Doris graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Dubuque.  Not long after that she married the love of her life, Ronald Brandel, on December 28, 1957, at Sacred Heart Church.  They spent 64 fun filled years together before Ron passed away on July 10, 2022.  She was an excellent wife and mother who also worked with the Dubuque Community Schools.  She spent 31 years at Central School before she finally decided it was time to retire.  Doris loved her job there, and she and her co-workers always made sure their days were full of laughter. 

Doris was a wonderful hostess and loved to entertain.  She was an outstanding cook and beautiful floral designer, both of which come in very handy when having family and friends over for special occasions.  Doris also had a very thrifty side and enjoyed going to garage sales and thrift stores looking for treasures.  In her younger days, she and Ron spent countless hours at their cottage on Esmann Island.  Her faith was also an important part of her life, and she was a long time member of Sacred Heart Church.  Her family meant the world to Doris and she made sure each and every person knew how special they were.  The world was a better place because Doris was in it.  She will be greatly missed.

Those left to cherish Doris’ memory include: her children, Beth (Robert) Schmerbach, Dyersville, IA, Lynne (Patrick) Einarsen, Dubuque, IA and Chris Brandel, Wauwatosa, WI; 5 grandchildren, Jeffrey (Alysia) Schmerbach, Ellen (Michael) Hirsch, AnnaRose Einarsen, Olivia Einarsen and Max Einarsen; and 6 great-great grandchildren, Jacobe (Gabrielle), Lukes, Isabella, Joseph, John and Natalie.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ronald Brandel; a son, John Charles Brandel in infancy; a great-grandson, Derek Hirsch; a great-granddaughter, Audrey Hirsch; and her siblings, Merlin (Bonnie) Meyer, Darlene (Red) Spoerl, Jeanette Billmeyer and Marian Meyer.

Doris’ family would like to thank the wonderful people at MercyOne Dyersville for their exceptional care and Ellen Kennedy Assisted Living Center for taking wonderful care of Doris over the last 1 ½ years, we cannot thank all of you enough.

The family will thankfully receive your support through greeting cards and memorials in Doris’ memory which may be mailed to Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001, Attn. Doris Brandel Family.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.behrfuneralhome.com