Samuel 'Sam' Mentzer

SAMUEL L. "SAM" MENTZER

Brandon

Samuel L. "Sam" Mentzer, 80, of Brandon, Iowa, died Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, at UnityPoint-Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa.

Sam was born Sept. 17, 1940, in Central City, Iowa, the son of Samuel and Grace (Ankney) Mentzer. He was a 1958 graduate of the Central City High School and shortly after graduating, started working at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. On July 14, 1962, he married Velda R. Bathen at the Brandon Methodist Church in Brandon, Iowa. Together they made their home in Brandon, and he joined the Brandon Fire Department in 1972. He and Velda traveled throughout the Midwest trout fishing and camping. In 2008, they traveled to Alaska and enjoyed taking a cruise and train to see the wilds of the north. He retired from Rockwell Collins in 1995 and from the fire department in 2013.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Velda Mentzer, Brandon, Iowa; his son, Scott (Cindy) Mentzer, Brandon, owa; a granddaughter, Jessica (James) Hoveland; and Kyle (Stacey) Mentzer; his great-grandchildren, Drake, Harmony and Hunter Hoveland, Lena and Lyra Mentzer; a sister, Joan Enabnit, Central City, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Grace Mentzer; a brother, Larry Mentzer; and a sister, Bonnie Grimm.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 6, at Brandon Methodist Church in Brandon. Inurnment will be held at Brandon Cemetery at noon Saturday. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday Aug. 5, at Reiff Family Center-Funeral Home & Crematory, Independence.

To leave an online condolence, please go to www.reifffamilycenter.com under obituaries.