Darlene Marie Brainard nee Butterfield

Darlene Marie Brainard nee Butterfield

Cedar Rapids

Darlene Marie Brainard nee Butterfield was born on Oct. 31, 1929, and died on July 21, 2023. She was 93 years old.

Her parents were Ruth Evelyn Butterfield nee Eastman and George Benjamin Butterfield of McIntire, Iowa. She graduated from McIntire High School in 1942 and continued her education at

Upper

Iowa University. Darlene enjoyed her time there: she was a homecoming queen candidate, on the newspaper staff and successfully completed a two-year teaching certificate!

After graduation, she taught second and third grade in the Waterville Schools. It was there she met her husband of 65 years, Ray Brainard. It was love at first sight for Ray. He coached the girls basketball team and a female chaperone was required. He requested

Miss Butterfield to fill the position. They married in 1949, Ray took a new teaching job, and moved from Waterville to Olds, Iowa, for two years, they then moved into the Noelridge neighborhood in Cedar Rapids. But, their family grew and they needed more space, thus relocated to what was then R.R.1 and now is 3281 C Ave. Ext, Marion, IA. They lived there for 52 years.

“Homemaking is surely in reality the most important work in the world.”-C.S. Lewis

Darlene was in every sense of the word a "homemaker." Her home was her alter and she created a beautiful house and garden: handmade curtains, perfectly finished woodwork and an expertly curated and designed interior. Her home skills were featured in the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Dame Darlenes’ kitchen was full of not only fresh

home grown garden fruits and vegetables but also jams, cookies, cakes, candies, and a bounty of bakery food, all homemade! She had cinnamon rolls every Sunday, thus "Cinnamon Roll Sunday!" In 2014 Darlene sold her beloved home and moved into Cottage Grove Place, where she spent her final years.

Preceded in death by her husband, Ray; she is survived by six children, Paul (Brenda) Brainard of Grapevine,Texas, Doug (Kathy) Brainard of Dunwoody, Ga., Carolyn (Bill) Schmarzo of Des Moines, Iowa, Nancy (Vince) Sumpter of Phoenix, Ariz., David (Dorothy) Brainard of Overland Park, Kan., and Steven (Amy) Brainard of North Liberty, Iowa; 10 grandchildren, Christopher Brainard, Cole and Davis Brainard, Alexander, Maxwell and Amelia Schmarzo, Christen Raemaker, Amanda Van Dusen, Audrey Sumpter, Scott Brainard and Katie Shubin; and four great-grandchildren (and counting), Sofia and Addison

Raemaker, Kaia and Tyson Van Dusen, Emerson Schmarzo and Campbell Schmarzo.

A memorial service will be held at Cottage Grove Place in the lovely Assisted Living Lounge, on Saturday, Aug. 5, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Darlene’s Christian faith was important to her.

John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, that in me you have peace. But take heart: I have overcome the world.”