Phyllis Jean (Mauser) Brandt died on Jan. 12, 2026, at Harmony in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Phyllis was born on Monday, Feb. 13, 1928, at her parents’ farm home near New Haven, Iowa. She was the youngest of Lawrence and Esther (Merkel) Mauser’s three daughters. She was raised on the family farm.

Phyllis attended the Douglas #6 country school through 8th grade. She shared stories of walking to the country school about two miles away and, at times, taking a pony-drawn cart. Phyllis graduated from Osage High School in 1946. During her high school years, she would spend the week at rooming houses in Osage; her parents taking her into town Sunday evening and picking her up Friday afternoons. She received her B.A. degree in Physical Education in May 1950 from the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and taught in the Waverly and Waterloo areas. She was a PE instructor for several years and thereafter was a substitute teacher.

She married Austin Lee Brandt on August 8, 1954, in Osage, Iowa. They went to the Black Hills, Glacier, and Yellowstone National Parks for their honeymoon. 

Their married life began on the family farm northeast of Dysart, Iowa. They had 3 children, Walter, Ellen, and Larry. Phyllis was active on the farm with seasonal planting and harvest events, cooking, making lunches, tending to livestock, and operations in general that included mowing, gardening, and landscaping, all occurring within a sense of duty, pride, and purpose.

Phyllis and Austin were lifelong members of the Dysart United Methodist Church. She was active in the Rebekah Circle, playing in the bell choir, attending committee meetings, and supporting the many various church events, making life-long friends from the congregation. They hosted two foreign exchange students, Jan Goransson from Sweden in 1972–1973, and Susan (Busk) Bramsen from Denmark in 1974–1975, the years that Walter and Ellen were seniors in high school. Phyllis and Austin enjoyed travels to Europe, Alaska, Canada, Panama, and within the U.S.

Phyllis welcomed all to her home. She enjoyed playing cards, hosting card parties and card clubs, all the while maintaining a competitive yet fun and friendly spirit. Dancing was a favorite activity of Phyllis and Austin’s. They enjoyed the social activity of square dancing, polka dancing, waltzing, and others. She was a camp counselor with the Camp Fire Girls at Camp Hantesa for a couple of summers during her college years. Phyllis was a 4-H Leader of the Bruce Boosterettes 4-H Club for many years.

 Phyllis and Austin dearly loved their seven grandchildren, who visited the farm regularly. With fondness and appreciation, their grandchildren hold on to the meaningful experiences arranged for them to include attendance at the Little Red School House in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and annual summer family gatherings at Clear Lake, Iowa, and Camp Hantesa in Boone, Iowa. Above all, her grandchildren cherished the time they spent together with their grandparents on the farm. Phyllis and Austin were always interested in their grandchildren’s educational and occupational ventures and aspirations, with music being especially encouraged by Phyllis.

Phyllis will be remembered for her care of all things that live and grow, her grounded spirit rooted in values of earnest effort and determined work, and the undying love she showed her community, friends, and family. 

Phyllis and Austin lived on the family farm until October of 2009, when they sold the acreage and moved to Dysart. Following Austin’s death in December of 2016, she moved to Marshalltown in September of 2017. In December of 2019, she moved to West Des Moines following a stroke.

 She is survived by her children Walter (Terri) Dysart, Iowa; Ellen (Mike) Bergman West Des Moines, Iowa; and Larry (Sue) Apple Valley, Minn.; her grandchildren Alex Bergman, Dublin, Ireland; Kati Brandt, San Francisco; Lauren (Don) Brandt-Erickson, Clive, Iowa; Jessica (Lance) Berndt, Bainville, Mont.; Brandt (Michelle Kuei) Bergman, Longmont, Colo.; Kelsey Brandt, Raleigh, N.C.; and Shelby (Moe Samaha) Brandt, Columbia Heights, Minn.; her great granddaughter Isla Erickson, Clive, Iowa; brothers and sisters in law Ray and Chris Brandt, Davenport, Iowa; and Joe and Sheryl Brandt, Waterloo, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

 Phyllis was preceded in death by her father, Lawrence, her mother, Esther, her husband Austin, her sisters Lucille and Dorothy, a niece, Jane, a nephew, Mark, and a nephew, Stephen. Also, brothers-in-law Glen Krogstad, Dick Newell, Donald Brandt, and Russell Brandt, and sisters-in-law Thelma Brandt and Mary Brandt.

 In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing in Phyllis’ memory to the Dysart United Methodist Church or a hospice organization of your choice.

SERVICES ARE PENDING AT THIS TIME.