Sarita Brant

SARITA BRANT

Fairfax

Sarita Ileen Brant, 61, of Fairfax, died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, in her home, with her husband of 38 years and family members by her side. She fought a courageous five-year battle against leiomyosarcoma cancer. Celebration of Life services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 16, at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling St. SW, with the Rev. Rick Gail presiding. Burial will follow in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be from 3 until 6 p.m. Sunday at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids.

Sarita was born June 28, 1953, in Hannibal, Mo., the daughter of Wesley Payne and Julia (Kirk) Bower. She grew up in Bethel, Mo., on a Hereford cattle farm. Sarita graduated from North Shelby High School as valedictorian of the class of 1971. She attended Northeast Missouri State University, where she received a bachelor's degree cum laude in social science.

While attending the university, she met the love of her life, Dennis Brant. Sarita and Dennis were married June 26, 1976, at Sharon United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids, where she was a member. They made their home in Cedar Rapids, where she worked for LeFebure Corp. until the company left the area. She then worked for the city of Cedar Rapids as an inspector for 15 years. In February 2008, she found her dream job with Diamond V, where she was international programs and support services coordinator. She traveled twice to Thailand and once to Korea. She truly enjoyed her five years with Diamond V until illness forced her to retire.

Sarita and Dennis enjoyed traveling. Her favorite place to visit was Jackson Hole, Wyo. Her hobbies were antiquing and collecting German wool sheep and tin De Laval advertising cows.

The time spent with family, especially her sons and grandchildren, was precious to her.

Sarita is survived by her husband,

Dennis Brant; two sons, Wesley Brant and Aaron (Makenzie) Brant, both of Cedar Rapids; two sisters, Yvonne (Dennis) Tuggle of Blue Springs, Mo., and Marcie Bower of Columbia, Mo.; two grandchildren, Sydney Brant and Easton Payne Brant; one brother-in-law, Jeff (Peggy) Anderson of Solon; one sister-in-law, Nancy Adkins of Munford, Tenn.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister--in-law, Mary Ann Godwin.

Donations in Sarita's memory may be made to the University of Iowa's Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center or Hospice of Mercy in Cedar Rapids.

The family especially thanks Desiree Brown, who was by Sarita's side many times at the University of Iowa for chemotherapy treatment, and to Dan Willard for his support and friendship. Two more thank-you's need to go out to Sarita's home hospice team (Beth, Cindy, Christine and Kim) as well as Dr. Mohammed Milhem. "First hospice, you all four have tough jobs to do, but thank you for making Sarita comfortable. Dr. Milhem, do not ever lose your bedside manner. Your smile and patience always made Sarita happy. She was so comfortable around you. Without your help, I would have never persuaded her to seek hospice."

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com.