Dena Rene Brandt

Dena "DeDe" Rene Gruver Brandt, 59, of Cedar Falls, died Wednesday, July 27, 2022, surrounded by her family while a patient of Cedar Valley Hospice Home. She was born on February 27, 1963, in Waterloo, the daughter of Othel and Mary Watson Gruver. She attended school at Central High School and married Bret Brandt on September 17, 1985. They later divorced. To this union the couple was blessed with two sons.

Dena was a homemaker, devoting her life to her family. She was an avid Harley Davidson enthusiast who enjoyed dancing to "her tunes." Dena loved to cook but was family renowned for being a food critic. If someone else was cooking, you could be guaranteed that Dena was going to find something wrong. Always making holidays and birthdays special, Dena had a unique way of showing her love for her family. She is remembered as being loving, accepting and non-judgmental. Dena was a warrior in life having fought many ailments for over twenty years.

Dena will be deeply missed by her mother, her sons, Justin (Cesli) Brandt and their children Calayah, Camille, and Jensen Brandt, of Waterloo, and Cory Brandt, and his "grand dog" Kado of Cedar Falls; nieces Haley Gruver and Lindsey Gruver, of Waterloo, who Dena thought of as daughters; siblings, Kendall Gruver, and Karry Gruver both of Waterloo, and Betty Gruver of Cedar Falls; five great-nephews, Craig Jr., Cohel, Landen, Acree, and Jace; and numerous other family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her father and her brother, Michael Gruver.

A Memorial Service celebrating DeDe's life will be 11:00 AM Monday, August 1, 2022, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 420 Harwood Ave, Waterloo. Visitation will be Sunday, July 31, 2022, from 2-4 PM at Locke at Tower Park, 4140 Kimball Ave, Waterloo. Memorials should be directed to the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.lockefuneralservices.com.