Mary "Mo" Patricia Brandhorst
March 18, 1956 — November 22, 2023
Mary “Mo” (O’Brien) Brandhorst, 67, of Central City, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at Summit Pointe Memory Care in Marion, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, November 27, 2023, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, Iowa. Funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church located at 4700 Valley Farm Road in Central City.
Mary was born on March 18, 1956, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Edward Jacob and Kathleen Gertrude (Lynch) O’Brien. She was a 1974 graduate of Regina High School in Iowa City, where she was a Hall of Famer for basketball and softball (known for her power and speed around the bases). Mary graduated in 1978 from William Penn with a degree in Education. On November 7, 1980, Mary was united in marriage to Jay Alan Brandhorst at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Iowa City. She worked in education, spending most of her career at Central City Community School District and Marion Independent School District before retiring in 2020. Mary attended all extra curriculars, especially those of her children and grandchildren. She loved shopping for deals, perusing garage sales, playing cards, games, casino trips and Hawkeye Sports. Mary cherished their annual family trips to Lake Edward in Merrifield, Minnesota, where many lifelong friendships were made. She was a proud member of the “One More Club”. Most important to Mary was her time spent with friends and family. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Mary is survived and lovingly remembered by her husband of 43 years, Jay Brandhorst of Central City; sons, Casey (Lindsey) Brandhorst of Central City, and Sean Brandhorst of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; grandchildren, Reid, Rowyn, and Calan Brandhorst; siblings, Jeanne Von Feldt, Joanne (Fred) Riddle, James (Sue) O’Brien, and Michael (Michelle) O’Brien; and brother-in-law, Jan (Patty) Brandhorst.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Kathleen; in-laws, Jean (Burt) Rabenberg, John Brandhorst; and brothers-in-law, Edward Von Feldt, and Denny Thiessen.
Memorials in Mary’s memory may be directed to the family.
Mary was born on March 18, 1956, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Edward Jacob and Kathleen Gertrude (Lynch) O’Brien. She was a 1974 graduate of Regina High School in Iowa City, where she was a Hall of Famer for basketball and softball (known for her power and speed around the bases). Mary graduated in 1978 from William Penn with a degree in Education. On November 7, 1980, Mary was united in marriage to Jay Alan Brandhorst at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Iowa City. She worked in education, spending most of her career at Central City Community School District and Marion Independent School District before retiring in 2020. Mary attended all extra curriculars, especially those of her children and grandchildren. She loved shopping for deals, perusing garage sales, playing cards, games, casino trips and Hawkeye Sports. Mary cherished their annual family trips to Lake Edward in Merrifield, Minnesota, where many lifelong friendships were made. She was a proud member of the “One More Club”. Most important to Mary was her time spent with friends and family. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Mary is survived and lovingly remembered by her husband of 43 years, Jay Brandhorst of Central City; sons, Casey (Lindsey) Brandhorst of Central City, and Sean Brandhorst of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; grandchildren, Reid, Rowyn, and Calan Brandhorst; siblings, Jeanne Von Feldt, Joanne (Fred) Riddle, James (Sue) O’Brien, and Michael (Michelle) O’Brien; and brother-in-law, Jan (Patty) Brandhorst.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Kathleen; in-laws, Jean (Burt) Rabenberg, John Brandhorst; and brothers-in-law, Edward Von Feldt, and Denny Thiessen.
Memorials in Mary’s memory may be directed to the family.
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