Dee L. Brainerd 1939-2020

BRAINERD, ALLEN, HALLIGAN

Posted By: Barry R Huntsinger (email)
Date: 12/13/2020 at 09:27:52

Dee L Brainerd was born March 15, 1939, in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Delbert and Coral (Allen) Brainerd. Growing up in Ft Dodge, he was a wrestler who became a two-time state champion for the Dodgers. Though considered part of the class of ’57, Dee completed high school in December of 1956, foregoing a shot at a third title to attend the University of Iowa beginning in January. After studying and wrestling in Iowa City for two seasons, he returned home to Ft. Dodge.

On Sept 10, 1960, Dee married Georgia Halligan at Corpus Christi Catholic church in Ft Dodge. Immediately upon marrying, the couple moved to Brookings, South Dakota, where daughters Mary and Jean were born while Dee attended South Dakota State University. He wrestled for the Jackrabbits, becoming the school’s first national champion. After graduating college in May of 1963, the family moved to Miller, South Dakota where he taught and coached wrestling. While in Miller, sons Mike and Pat were born. After three years in Miller, the family moved to Tracy, Minnesota where Dee taught and coached for another year. The family then moved to Carroll, Iowa where he continued his teaching/coaching career for two years at Kuemper High School.

In 1969, the young family made their final move to Estherville,Iowa where Dee completed his career, coaching wrestling and teaching algebra at EHS while working as a carpenter/painter during the summer months. After his sons completed high school, he retired from coaching in 1984 and from teaching in 1999. He never retired from “puttering”, keeping busy at home, at the cabin or while working on a “to do” list when visiting his children.

Dee was inducted into the Jackrabbit Sports Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Ft Dodge athletic hall of fame in 1992. He was a member of Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Estherville. He was a big fan of all Iowa Hawkeye sports but especially wrestling. He watched (and re-watched) the Hawks on BTN and, whenever possible, attended Big Ten & NCAA wrestling tournaments held at various Midwest locations. In his earlier years, he enjoyed yearly fishing trips to Cut Foot Sioux Lake in Minnesota with family and friends. He enjoyed socializing with retired teaching/coaching peers (among others) at Hardee’s. During early retirement, Dee also liked to bow hunt with family friend, Norton. He especially liked walleye fishing on Big Spirit Lake where the family cabin was located. His family shares lots of great memories of “Gramps” at the lake – not only fishing, but boating, swimming, playing games (cribbage being a favorite), relaxing and watching the wood ducks nesting in front of the cabin. He loved his family and friends deeply and these same folks cherished time spent with him.

Dee is survived by his wife of 60 years, Georgia; his children Mary (Kevin) Krause of West Des Moines,Iowa Jean (Craig) Skogen of Lake Arrowhead, Georgia, Michael (Karen) Brainerd of Bennington, Nebraska, and Patrick (Joni) Brainerd of Burlington, Iowa; his grandchildren Amanda, Morgan, William (Bo), Sarah, Tanner, Luke, Kyle, Brittany and Jacob; his brothers Tom (Marilyn) Brainerd of Ft Dodge, and Jim (Carol) Brainerd of Bettendorf, Iowa and brother in law Bill Gasho of Northfield, Minnesota. Along with his beloved children and grandchildren, Dee leaves behind seven great grandchildren and thousands of former students who he taught and/or coached over the years, many who affectionately referred to him as “Mr. B”. He touched the lives of all he met. Dee was preceded in death by his parents and sister Mary Gasho.

Dee passed away Tuesday morning, December 1, 2020, while resting comfortably at Mary & Kevin’s lake home on West Okoboji,Iowa alongside his treasured family. He was 81. Interment was at Saint Patrick's Catholic Cemetery, Estherville.

(Source: Henry-Olson Funeral Home, Estherville, Iowa.)