Brandee Alexander

Brandee M. Alexander, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away early Wednesday morning, November 19, 2008, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa, after a courageous battle with cancer, at the age of 34 years, 9 months and 7 days.

Brandee Marie (Feldhacker) Alexander was born on February 12, 1974, in Spencer, Iowa, the third born daughter of Edward Raymond and Elaine Beth (Meerdink) Feldhacker. She was baptized in the Catholic faith, and became a born again Christian in 1982, accepting Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. Brandee grew up in Spencer until August 1979, when the family moved to Cherokee, Iowa, where she attended elementary school and Washington High School, graduating with honors in May 1992. During her high school years she enjoyed babysitting, teaching Vacation Bible School, and working at KCHE as a radio announcer. She loved little children and enjoyed teaching them.

Brandee attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, from 1992 to 1995, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, Magna Cum Laude. Brandee began her teaching career in Atlantic, Iowa, starting as a second grade classroom teacher from 1996-1999, and then from 1999 to the present taught kindergarten classes at Washington Elementary. She received her Master of Arts degree in Education for teaching Reading and Language Arts from the University of Northern Iowa in May 2001. She was a continuing member of Omicron Epsilon, a local charitable sorority, from 1997 to the present, and a children's church teacher for 3 to 6 year olds from 2005 to 2007.

Brandee was united in marriage to Matthew Scott Alexander on August 12, 1995, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee, Iowa. To this union they were blessed with Austin Matthew, age 9 and Abby Marie, age 4. Between work and family, Brandee's days were filled with activities. She enjoyed spending time with her family, going to the pool and taking trips to the zoo, the children's museum, or any other educational activity she could do with her family. Her main hobbies were golfing, reading books to her children and improving her teaching skills. She loved to come up with innovative ways to teach her students, and would spend a lot of time to make sure things were organized and ready for her students each day.

Brandee touched the hearts of the Atlantic community and all of those who knew her. Her beauty, joy of life, and strength was reflected in her smile, despite the struggles she faced with cancer. Brandee never lost her determination to beat the disease; she remained positive and held onto her strong faith in the Lord. She knew that God had an ultimate plan for her life and she was at peace with that. To the very end, she fought optimistically and full of grace. Brandee's determination made it possible for her to make special quilts for her children and also to recently attend her own children's parent-teacher conferences.

Brandee is survived by her husband, Matt of Atlantic, Iowa; her children, Austin and Abby both of Atlantic, Iowa; her parents, Edward and Elaine Feldhacker of Oakland, Iowa; her sister; Kim Dalke and her husband, Bill of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; and her mother and father-in-law, Darrell and Phyllis Newman; her sister-in-law, Roxanne Alexander all of Ida Grove, Iowa; her nephews, Cory Hicks of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, and Wade Dalke of Sioux City, Iowa; her niece, Chelon Dalke of Sioux City, Iowa; her paternal grandmother, Vernice Feldhacker of Spencer, Iowa; and several uncles, aunts and cousins.

She was welcomed into Heaven by her sister, Tamara Kay Feldhacker; her maternal grandparents, Wilbur and Harriet (Borgman) Meerdink; and her paternal grandfather, Raymond Feldhacker.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 22, 2008, at the Evangelical Free Church in Atlantic, Iowa.

Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery in Atlantic, Iowa.

Visitation will be from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m., with family present to greet friends from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. and a prayer service at 8:00 p.m., Friday, November 21, 2008, at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic.

Memorials may be directed to the family for designation at a later date.

Condolences may be left at www.hockenberryfamilycare.com.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, IA is in charge of the arrangements.