Obituaries : Dean A. Albert, 74, Brandon

Dean A. Albert, 74, of Brandon, Iowa, died Wednesday, April 14, 2010, at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton following a short illness. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 17, 2010, at Brandon United Methodist Church in Brandon with Pastor Collette Gould officiating. Visitation will be held Friday, April 16, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in Brandon Cemetery, Brandon, Iowa. Dean was born June 11, 1935, in Vinton, Iowa, the son of Ross and Pearl Tucker Albert. He grew up in Brandon and graduated from Brandon High School in 1953. On January 30, 1955, he married Beverly Sloan at the Brandon United Methodist Church. Dean and Bev farmed in the Brandon area all their lives. In 2006, the Albert Family Farm was designated a Heritage Farm by the State of Iowa. Dean had been a member of the Brandon Fire Department since 1974. He served as President, Safety Officer and Training Officer. In 1981, Dean was a founding member of the Brandon First Responders and had been serving as President. He had also been serving on the North Benton Ambulance Board of Directors since 1995. Dean served on the Brandon Cemetery Board Association and was also a Harrison Township Trustee in Benton County. He was a member of the Brandon United Methodist Church. Dean is survived by his wife of 55 years, Beverly, of Brandon; his son, Gary (Barb) Albert of Brandon; daughter Marsha (Rodney) Hinrichs of Amana; three grandchildren: Lacey (Dan) Kriens, Chad Albert and Austin Hinrichs; and four great-grandchildren: Cameron, Elliot, Natalie and Hannah Kriens. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Lyle Albert. A memorial fund has been established. Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Dean and his family. Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.